by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Ich bin eine Harfe
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: FRE
Ich bin eine Harfe mit goldenen Saiten, auf einsamem Gipfel über die Fluren erhöht. Du laß die Finger [leise]1 und sanft darüber gleiten, und Melodien werden aufraunen und aufrauschen, wie nie noch Menschen hörten; das wird ein heilig Klingen über den Landen sein... Ich bin eine Harfe mit goldenen Saiten, auf einsamem Gipfel über die Fluren erhöht - und harre Deiner, oh Priesterin! daß meine Geheimnisse aus mir brechen und meine Tiefen zu reden beginnen und, wie ein Mantel, meine Töne um dich fallen, ein Purpurmantel der Unsterblichkeit.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Wolff: "leis"
Text Authorship:
- by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "Wenn du nur wolltest" [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 Ernest Vietor (flourished 1905-1930), "Traum", op. 11 no. 3 (1933-4) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Erich J. Wolff (1874 - 1913), "Ich bin eine Harfe", op. 13 (Sechs Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern) no. 6, published 1907 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (John Bernhoff) , "Behold, I'm a harp here"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Si seulement tu voulais", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-07-10
Line count: 29
Word count: 88
Behold, I'm a harp here
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Behold, I'm a harp here: my strings are all golden, in lonely high summit, o'er verdant meadows I'm raised. O let but thy fingers' soft caressing touch sweep o'er me, and melodies supernal upsoaring shall enchant thee, as never mortal heard yet. And in that hallowed Music shall all the lands rejoice... Behold, I'm a harp here, my strings all are golden, on lonely high summit o'er verdant meadows I'm raised, and wait thy coming, o priestess fair! Thy touch shall unlock all my soul's deep secrets then shall my spirit's profound thoughts be told thee, and like a mantle shall my music all enfold thee, o purple mantle of immortal life.
From the Wolff score.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912), "Behold, I'm a harp here" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Morgenstern (1871 - 1914), "Wenn du nur wolltest"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-07-16
Line count: 29
Word count: 112