Whether in the blissful days of springtime

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by Hedwig Kiesekamp (1844 - 1919), as Ludwig Rafael

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Ob in des Lenzes wonnevollen Tagen

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Ob in des Lenzes wonnevollen Tagen, 
Von ew'ger Werdekraft durchglüht? 

Ob, wenn im Sommer still in Hain und Hagen 
Purpurn die wilde Rose blüht?

Wenn von des Herbstes goldumlaubten Zweigen 
Die Labfrucht uns entgegenlacht?

Wenn schneebelastet sich die Tannen neigen, 
Der Winterwald strahlt Märchenpracht? 

Wann du Natur am schönsten, größten bist, 
Ich fass' es nicht, -- wie soll ich's sagen? 

Mein Herz auf ewig dir ergeben ist, --
Es schlägt in dir zu allen Lebenstagen.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von L. Rafael, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Breitkopf und Härtel, 1894, page 150.

Text Authorship:

by Hedwig Kiesekamp (1844 - 1919), as Ludwig Rafael, "Wann du, Natur, am schönsten bist, wie soll ich's sagen?", appears in Neue Gedichte, in Zweite Abtheilung. Natur [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 Wilhelm Mauke (1867 - 1930), "Wann du, Natur am schönsten bist", op. 30 (Drei Gesänge nach Dichtungen L. Rafael's für eine Singstimme mit Klavier) no. 1, published 1899 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Challier & Co. [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2024-07-10
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Whether in the blissful days of...

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Whether in the blissful days of springtime,
Irradiated with the eternal power of becoming? 

Whether when in summer, quietly in copse and hedges,
The wild roses bloom crimson?

When, surrounded by autumn’s branches of golden foliage,
The refreshing fruit laughs toward us?

When the firs bend down, laden with snow,
[When] the winter forest sparkles in fairy-tale splendour?

When you, Nature, are at your most beautiful, most grand,
I do not grasp it, -- how shall I tell of it?

My heart is yours eternally, --
Every day of my life it beats within you.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Wann du, Natur am schönsten bist" = "When you are at your most beautiful, Nature"
"Wann du, Natur, am schönsten bist, wie soll ich's sagen?" = "When you are at your most beautiful, Nature, how can I tell of it?"

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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Hedwig Kiesekamp (1844 - 1919), as Ludwig Rafael, "Wann du, Natur, am schönsten bist, wie soll ich's sagen?", appears in Neue Gedichte, in Zweite Abtheilung. Natur
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2024-08-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 93