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Am Berge dort Wie strahlt das Abendlicht So freundlich fort, Als könnt' es scheiden nicht! Was mag es schaun Und grüßen auf den holden Aun? Wallt Hand in Hand Ein selig Paar durch's Feld, Daß unverwandt Das Licht vom Himmelszelt Muß niederschaun, Durchzittert selbst von süßem Graun? Geht voller Leid Ein einsam Herz den Steg, Und sucht Bescheid Umsonst auf irrem Weg? Will tröstend schaun Der Strahl hernieder aus dem Blaun? -- O Abendlicht! Was sinkst du schon in Nacht? Zeigst länger nicht Die milde, sanfte Pracht? Magst nimmer schaun Wohl des gebrochnen Herzens Graun? --
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 110-111.
Note to stanza 3, line 5: In the published poem this line ended with an exclamation mark, which makes no grammatical sense. It has been removed above.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Abendlicht", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 124 [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 Theodor Gaugler (1840 - 1892) [sung text not yet checked]
- by August Langert (1836 - 1920) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Evening light", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-07-27
Line count: 24
Word count: 95
Yonder on the mountain, How the evening light goes on Gleaming so amiably, As if it could not depart! What might it be seeing And greeting upon the lovely meadows? Does a blissful couple Wander hand in hand through the field, So that the light from The canopy of heaven Must gaze down unwaveringly, Itself all a-tremble with sweet terrors? Does a solitary heart Walk its path full of sorrow, And seek in vain for An answer upon the errant path? Does the [sun]beam wish To gaze down comfortingly from the blue? -- Oh evening light! Why do you already sink into night? [Why] do you no longer show Your mild, gentle splendour? Is it that you do not wish to see The horror of a broken heart any longer? --
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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), "Abendlicht", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 124
This text was added to the website: 2025-08-21
Line count: 24
Word count: 130