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Der Sänger ruht auf schroffem Stein, Umstralt [sic] vom Morgenlicht, Er schaut hinunter, wo der Rhein Die stolzen Wellen bricht: Horch! durch die Lüfte braust ein Sturm Von Jubel und Gesang, Und weit hinab von Thurm zu Thurm Tönt Feierglocken-Klang. -- Nun rauscht die Flut am Felsenriff Empor in weißem Schaum, Da fleucht heran ein gold'nes Schiff, Schön wie ein Märchentraum; Drauf steht manch' herrliche Gestalt Um einen hohen Gast, Und eine Adlerflagge wallt Herab vom schlanken Mast. Vorbei -- vorbei – "was weinest du O Sänger ernst und bleich --?" ""Ich dacht' indeß in stiller Ruh An's alte deutsche Reich, Da sank mir eine Thräne nur In's tiefe Wellengrab; Denn ach! sein letzter Kaiser fuhr Dort auf dem Rhein hinab!""
Confirmed with Rheinische Lieder und Sagen von Adelheid von Stolterfoth, Frankfurt am Main: Druck und Verlag von Johann David Sauerländer, 1839, pages 154-155
Text Authorship:
- by Adelheid (Zwierlein) von Stolterfoth (1800 - 1875), "Des letzten Kaisers Rheinfahrt", subtitle: "1818", appears in Rheinische Lieder und Sagen, first published 1839 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johann Wenzeslaus Kalliwoda (1801 - 1866), "Des letzten Kaisers Rheinfahrt", op. 147 no. 1 (1846?) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The Rhine-Journey of the last emperor", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 119
The minstrel rests upon the rugged rocks, The morning light sending its beams all around him; He gazes down to where the Rhine’s Proud waves break: Hark! through the air roars a storm Of rejoicing and singing, And far below from tower to tower Festive bells ring out. -- Now the waters surge at the rocky cliff, [Surge] upward in white foam; A golden ship approaches rapidly, As beautiful as a fairy-tale dream; Upon it stands many a glorious figure Surrounding a noble guest, And a flag with an eagle hangs Down from the slender mast. Past – past -- "why do you weep, Oh minstrel solemn and pale --?" ""In silent repose I was thinking the while Of the old German realm; Thereupon only a single one of my tears fell Down into the deep grave of the waves; For ah! [the realm’s] last emperor passed by Down there upon the Rhine!""
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Adelheid (Zwierlein) von Stolterfoth (1800 - 1875), "Des letzten Kaisers Rheinfahrt", subtitle: "1818", appears in Rheinische Lieder und Sagen, first published 1839
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 151