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Ernst ist der Herbst. Und wenn die Blätter fallen, sinkt auch das Herz zu trübem Weh herab. Still ist die Flur, und nach dem Süden wallen die Sänger, stumm, wie nach dem Grab. Bleich ist der Tag, und blasse Nebel schleiern die Sonne wie die Herzen, ein. Früh kommt die Nacht: denn alle Kräfte feiern, und tief verschlossen ruht das Sein. Sanft wird der Mensch. Er sieht die Sonne sinken, er ahnt des Lebens wie des Jahres Schluß. Feucht wird das Aug', doch in der Träne Blinken, entströmt des Herzens seligster Erguß.
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Text Authorship:
- by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899), first published 1854 [author's text not yet checked 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 Carl Banck (1809 - 1889), "Träumerei", op. 83 no. 8, published 1886 [ medium voice and piano ], from Herbstklänge. Acht Gesänge für 1 mittlere Stimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 8, Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Im Herbst", op. 104 (Fünf Gesänge) no. 5 (1886), published 1888 [ satb chorus ], Berlin, Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Im Herbste", op. 48 (Sieben Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1885 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Wim Reedijk) , "In de herfst", copyright © 2003, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In the autumn", copyright © 2004
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "En automne", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 22
Word count: 92
Somber is the autumn, and when the leaves fall, so does the heart sink into dreary woe. Silent is the meadow and to the south have flown silently all the songbirds, as if to the grave. Pale is the day, and wan clouds veil the sun as they veil the heart. Night comes early: for all work comes to a halt and existence itself rests in profound secrecy. Man becomes kindly. He sees the sun sinking, he realizes that life is like the end of a year. His eye grows moist, yet in the midst of his tears shines streaming from the heart a blissful effusion.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899), first published 1854
This text was added to the website: 2004-04-28
Line count: 22
Word count: 106