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In blauer Nacht, bei Vollmondschein Was rauscht und singt so süße? Drei Nixen sitzen am Mövenstein Und baden die weißen Füße. Es hat der blonde Fischerknab' Gehört das Singen und Rauschen, Ihm brennt das Herz, er schleicht hinab, Die Feyen zu belauschen. Da sausen empor im Mondenlicht Drei weiße wilde Schwäne, Das Wasser spritzt ihm ins Gesicht, Verklungen sind die Töne.
About the headline (FAQ)
Note provided by Michael Rosewall for stanza 1, line 3, word 5: "Mövenstein" is a large boulder on Germany’s northern coast, a fabled landmark for the town of Lübeck.
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Spätherbstblätter, in Ostseelieder, 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 Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "In blauer Nacht" [ four-part men's chorus ], Leipzig, Leuckart [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "In blauer Nacht bei Vollmondschein", op. 340 (4 Lieder für Bass mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1868 [ bass and piano ], Offenbach, André [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ida Becker, née Naumann (d. 1897), "In blauer Nacht, bei Vollmondschein", published 1897 [ voice and piano ], from Ostseelieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Felix) Otto Dessoff (1835 - 1892), "In blauer Nacht, bei Vollmondschein", op. 8 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1879 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz von Holstein (1826 - 1878), "Am Mövenstein", op. 25 (Sechs Lieder und Romanzen für zwei Frauenstimmen mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1892 [ vocal duet for 2 female voices with piano ], Leipzig, Fritzsch [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Wilhelm Kücken (1810 - 1882), "Die Nixen", op. 86 (4 Gesänge für S., A., T. und B.) no. 1, published 1868 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alphonse Maurice (1856 - 1905), "In blauer Nacht bei Vollmondschein", op. 6 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Cranz [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hermann Seeliger , "In blauer Nacht bei Vollmondschein", op. 1 no. 2, published 1899 [ voice and piano ], from Ostseelieder, no. 2, Breslau, Gleis [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Claus-Christian Schuster [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 61
In blue night, by full moonlight, What is that rings and sings so sweetly? Three mermaids sitting upon the Seagull Stone Bathing their white feet. A young, blond fisherman Heard the singing and the ringing, His heart burned, and he crept forward To listen more closely. Then, fluttering upward in the moonlight, Three wild white swans, Water spattered his face, The sounds dying away.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Am Mövenstein" = "At the Seagull Stone"
"Die Nixen" = "The Mermaids"
"In blauer Nacht" = "In Blue Night"
"In blauer Nacht bei Vollmondschein" = "In Blue Night by Full Moonlight"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Michael P Rosewall, (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 Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Spätherbstblätter, in Ostseelieder, no. 6
This text was added to the website: 2023-01-30
Line count: 12
Word count: 64