Minstrel, when did you create the song | Minstrel, when did you create the song

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by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Spielmann, wann hast du das Lied erdacht

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Spielmann, wann hast du das Lied erdacht,
Das du uns nächten gesungen?
Sicherlich ist's in der Frühlingsnacht
Deinem Gemüthe entsprungen.
Rheinweinduft entquoll dem Pokal,
Und von rosigem Munde
Pflücktest du Küsse ohne Zahl--
Dreimal selige Stunde!

Spielmann spricht: "In des Schneewind's Zug
Klirrten die Fenster zersprungen,
Und es gefror mir das Wasser im Krug,
Als ich das Lied gesungen. 
Draussen im Gange in keifendem Ton
Zankte die böse Sieben,
Weil ich drei Monden den Miethzins schon
Schuldig der Hexe geblieben.["]

Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, dreizehntes Tausend, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1884, pages 157-158.

Text Authorship:

by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Spielmann, wann hast du das Lied erdacht", appears in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen [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 Gustav Baldamus (1862 - 1933), "Spielmann, wann hast du das Lied erdacht", op. 19 no. 1, published 1891 [ ttbb chorus ], from Fahrende Gesellen. Fünf Lieder von Baumbach für Männerchor, no. 1, Berlin: Fr. Luckhardt [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Minstrel, when did you create the song", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2020-06-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 80

Minstrel, when did you create the song

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Minstrel, when did you create the song
That you sang for us by night?
Surely it was in a springtime night
That it sprang forth from your spirit.
The scent of Rhine-wine wafted up from the goblet,
And from a rosy pair of lips
You plucked innumerable kisses –
Trice-blessed hour!

The minstrel says: "In the blowing of a blizzard
The broken windows rattled,
And the water in my jug froze
While I sang the song.
Outside in the hallway in a nagging tone
The evil [Frau] Sieben scolded,
Because for three months already
I had owed the old witch my rent.["]

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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 Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905), "Spielmann, wann hast du das Lied erdacht", appears in Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2020-06-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 102