The elves of light: | Weave, weave, only quietly

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Die Lichtelfen

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG FRE

Webet, webet nur leise,
Daß nicht das Kind erwacht,
Schwebend ziehet die Kreise
Durch das Gedüft der Nacht!
Singet,
Bringet
Goldene Lieder sacht!
Webet, webet nur leise,
Daß nicht das Kind erwacht! 

Flüstert, ihr Blütenbäume,
Flüstert im Mondenschein!
Wehet ihr süße Träume
Mild in den Schlaf hinein!
Teilet,
Heilet
Sehnender Liebe Pein!
Flüstert, ihr Blütenbäume,
Flüstert im Mondenschein!

Confirmed with Karl Theodor Gaedertz, Emanuel Geibel. Sänger der Liebe, Herold des Reiches. Ein deutsches Dichterleben, Leipzig: Georg Wigand, 1897, page 110

Text Authorship:

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Die Lichtelfen:", appears in Der Liebe Leid und Lust, no. 3 [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 Lothar Kempter (1844 - 1918), "Die Lichtelfen", op. 13 no. 3, published 1894 [voice and piano], from Der Liebe Leid und Lust. Ein Cyklus von 5 Liedern für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 3, Leipzig, Hug & Co. [ sung text not verified ]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The elves of light:", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Les elfes de lumière", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2018-02-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 58

The elves of light:

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Weave, weave, only quietly
So that the child does not wake,
Floatingly trace the circles
Through the scents of the night!
Sing,
Bring
Golden songs gently!
Weave, weave, only quietly
So that the child does not wake,

Whisper, you blossoming trees,
Whisper in the moonlight!
Waft, you sweet dreams,
Mildly into her sleep!
Share,
Heal
The suffering of yearning love!
Whisper, you blossoming trees,
Whisper in the moonlight!

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Die Lichtelfen:", appears in Der Liebe Leid und Lust, no. 3
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2018-03-31
Line count: 18
Word count: 68