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Nachtviolen, Nachtviolen! Dunkle Augen, seelenvolle, - Selig ist es sich [versinken]1 In den sammtnen Blau. Grüne Blätter streben freudig Euch zu hellen, euch zu schmücken; Doch ihr blicket ernst und schweigend In die laue Frühlingsluft. [Ja, so fesselt ihr den Dichter:]2 Mit [erhabnem Wehmuthstrahle]3 Trafet ihr [sein]4 treues Herz. Und nun blüht in stummen Nächten Fort die heilige Verbindung. [Unaussprechlich, unbegriffen, Und die Welt erbleicht und sinkt.]2
Note: Schubert received Mayrhofer's texts in handwriting; the manuscripts of his cycle Heliopolis, dedicated to Franz von Schober, are preserved in the Vienna City Library. The printed edition of Mayrhofer's poems appeared much later and presents the texts in a revised version. This poem (originally no. 4 of the cycle) is not part of the cycle in the printed edition of 1843. Here it is no. 1 of the cycle Nachtviolen.
1 Schubert: "versenken" ("versinken" appears in his autograph but not in the published song)2 omitted by Schubert.
3 Schubert: "erhabnem Wehmuthsstrahle"
4 Schubert: "mein"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Nachtviolen", D 752 (1822), published 1872 [ voice, piano ], J. P. Gotthard, VN 325-361, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Julianes", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Nachtviolen", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Dame's violets", copyright ©
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "Damask-Violets", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Juliennes des dames", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Viole notturne", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2022-04-15
Line count: 15
Word count: 71
Nachtviolen, nachtviolen, Donk're ogen, vol bezieling! Zalig is het te verzinken In 't fluwelen blauw. Groene blaad'ren trachten glunder Je te held'ren, je te sieren; Maar je blik tuurt, ernstig zwijgend, In de lauwe lentelucht. [...] Met voornaam, weemoedig stralen Raakte je mijn trouwe hart, En nu bloeit in stille nachten Voort de heilige relatie. [... ...]
Note: this is a translation of Schubert's sung text.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2006 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen. Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 15
Word count: 55