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Freude weilt in unserm Kreise, Schlingt um uns ihr trautes Band; Ei! wem schlägt nicht froher Weise Gleich das Herz, singt er zum Preise Dir, o theures Vaterland! Freude, Freude seht ihr strahlen Rings auf jedem Angesicht; Ja! gegrüßt zu tausend Malen, Freundesherz! bist nicht zu zahlen, Das die Treue nimmer bricht! Aber tiefer ist gegründet, Fester, unser Bund fürwahr; Nicht zur Freude nur entzündet, Auch für Noth und Tod verbündet Steht zusammen unsre Schaar! Bruderliebe! schwing', o schwinge Hin dich über's ganze Land! Hilfe, Trost und Segen bringe, Um die Herzen alle schlinge Dich, du schönstes, schönstes Band!
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 298-299.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Das schönste Band", appears in Liederbuch, in 4. Vaterlandslieder, no. 323 [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 Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Weber (1845 - 1887), "Das schönste Band" [ mixed chorus ], in: Heim, Volksgesänge für gemischten Chor [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The most beautiful bond", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-02-16
Line count: 20
Word count: 99
Joy dwells in our circle, It twines its familiar bond around us; Ah! whose heart does not immediately Beat in a joyful manner, when he sings To you, oh beloved homeland! One sees joy, joy beaming All around on every face; Yes! be greeted a thousand times, Heart of a friend! you are beyond price, [You] that never breaks faith! But founded yet more deeply, More tightly is our bond, in truth; It ignites us not only to joy, Allied as well for misery and death Our band stands together! Brotherly love! soar, oh soar Away over the whole country! Bring help, comfort, and blessing, About all our hearts twine Yourself, you most beautiful, most beautiful bond!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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), "Das schönste Band", appears in Liederbuch, in 4. Vaterlandslieder, no. 323
This text was added to the website: 2026-08-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 117