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Kommt der Lenz im Winter schon, Ei! wer wird's ihm wehren, Und nicht gleich im Jubelton Singen ihm zu Ehren! Sind die Vögel auch noch fern, Sieh! wie keck verwegen Lachen Blumen, Stern an Stern, Schon der Sonn' entgegen! Fängt der Wald zu knospen an, Ohne lang zu fragen; Grünen Feld und Wiesenplan Lustig ohne Zagen; Säumen lieblich um und um Sich die Wolkenränder: Ei! wer schaute blöd und stumm Erst in den Kalender! Kommt der Lenz, und macht's ein Mal Recht nach seinem Kopfe, Nimmt den Winter ohne Wahl Unsanft gleich beim Schopfe: Dankt, o dankt ihm unverzagt, Ei! und faßt's zu Sinnen: Frisch nur stets und froh gewagt, Wer da will gewinnen!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 8.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Frisch gewagt!", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 6 [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 C. Joseph Brambach (1833 - 1902), "Frisch gewagt", op. 36 (Sechs Gesänge für Männerstimmen), Heft 2 no. 4, published 1876 [ men's chorus ], Bonn: Cohen [sung text not yet checked]
- by Casimir Meister (1869 - 1941), "Frisch gewagt", op. 52 (Männerchöre) no. 2, published 1905 [ men's chorus ], Zürich: Ph. Fries [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Schneeberger (1843 - 1906) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bernhard Zorn , "Frisch gewagt", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für eine mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1883 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin: Paez [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Briskly dared!", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2024-06-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 115
If spring comes already in winter, Well! who shall deter it, And not immediately in rejoicing tones Sing in its honour! Though the bird be yet distant, Lo! how perkily and recklessly Flowers, star beside star, Laugh to meet the sun! The forest begins to bud Without any long questioning; Fields and meadows grow green Merrily without hesitation; The edges of the clouds are bordered Round and round with loveliness: Well! who would, dully and mutely, Stand staring into the calendar! When spring comes and once acts Exactly as it pleases, Without choosing, takes winter Roughly by the hair: Then thank, oh thank it undismayed, Yes! and grasp it with your spirit: Only always briskly and gladly dared, Whoever wishes to win!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Frisch gewagt!", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 6
This text was added to the website: 2024-06-12
Line count: 24
Word count: 123