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Tanzt dem schönen Mai entgegen, Der, in seiner Herrlichkeit Wiederkehrend, Reiz und Segen Über Thal und Hügel streut! Seine Macht verjüngt und gattet Alles, was der grüne Wald, Was der zarte Halm beschattet, Und die laue Wog' umwallt. Tanz, o Jüngling, tanz, o Schöne, Die des Maien Hauch verschönt! Menget Lieder ins Getöne, Das [sic] die Morgenglocke tönt. [Ins Gesäusel]1 junger Blätter, Und der [holden]2 Nachtigall Liebejauchzendes Geschmetter; Und erweckt den Wiederhall! [Flieht der Stadt umwölkte Zinnen! Hier, wo Mai und Lieb' euch ruft, Athmet, schöne Städterinnen, Athmet frische Maienluft! Irrt mit euren Sonnenhütchen Auf die Frühlingsflur hinaus, Singt ein fröhlich Maienliedchen, Pflücket, einen Busenstrauß!]3 Schmückt mit Kirschenblütenzweigen Euch den grünen Sonnenhut, Schürzt das Röckchen, tanzet Reigen, Wie die Schäferjugend thut! Bienen sumsen um die Blüte, Und der Westwind schwärmt sich matt, Schwärmt und haucht auf eure Hüte Manches weiße Blütenblatt.
M. Meyer-Olbersleben sets stanzas 1(lines1-4), 2-3, 4 (lines1-4)
J. Lang sets stanzas 1(lines1-4), 2
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Gedichte von Ludewig Heinrich Christoph Hölty, Besorgt durch seine Freunde Friederich Leopold Grafen zu Stolberg und Johann Heinrich Voß, Carlsruhe: bey Christian Gottlieb Schmieder, 1784, pages 13-14.
Submitter's note regarding the Josephine Lang setting: There are four manuscripts of this unpublished song: one is for voice and piano, two are for mixed chorus, and one is the bass part of the mixed chorus version. The voice and piano manuscript and one of the mixed chorus manuscripts have no text. The other mixed chorus manuscript has only one strophe of text. The bass part has the 'complete' text, but the third strophe breaks off after “Singt ins”.
1 Lang, Meyer-Olbersleben, later Voß editions: "Singt ins Säuseln"2 Meyer-Olbersleben: "jungen"
3 Meyer-Olbersleben:
Irrt mit euren Sonnenhütchen Auf die Frühlingsflur hinaus! Singt ein fröhlich' Maienliedchen, Pflücket einen Blumenstrauß! Flieht der Stadt umwölkte Zinnen! Hier, wo Mai und Lieb' euch ruft, Atmet, schöne Städterinnen, Atmet frische Maienluft!
Text Authorship:
- by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Mailied" [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 Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied an den Maÿ", alternate title: "Maÿlied", stanzas 1(lines1-4),2 [ mixed chorus ], unpublished, undated [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Max Meyer-Olbersleben (1850 - 1927), "Tanzliedchen im Mai", op. 59 (Drei dreistimmige Frauenchöre mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3, stanzas 1(lines1-4),2-3,4 (lines1-4) [ three-part women's chorus and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johann Xaver Sterkel (1750 - 1817), "Mailied", StWV 52 no. 4, published 1791 [ voice and piano ], from Sammlung [6] neuer Lieder zum Singen beim Clavier - [1. Sammlung], I. Theil, no. 4, Mannheim, München und Dusseldorf: im Musick-Verlag von Johann Michael Götz [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Oskar Bolck, Reinhold Finsterbusch, Johann Christian Rötsch.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2020-10-24
Line count: 32
Word count: 145
Dance to greet beautiful May, Which, returning in its glory, Strews enchantment and blessing Over valley and hill! Its power rejuvenates and unites Everything that the green forest [shades], That the delicate grass blade shades, And that about which the warm wave surges. Dance, oh young man, dance, oh lovely maiden Who is beautified by the breath of May! Blend songs into the resounding Of the morning bell. [Into]1 the rustling of young leaves, And into the sound of the [lovely]2 nightingale’s Noisy racket of rejoicing love; And awaken the echoes! [Flee from the city's beclouded parapets! Here, where May and love calls you, Breathe, lovely city girls, Breathe in the fresh May air! In your sun-hats wander out Into the springtime meadow, Sing a joyful May-song, Pick a posy for your bosom!]3 Adorn your green sun-hat With cherry blossom sprays, Tie up your skirts, dance roundelays, As the youthful shepherd-folk do! Bees hum about the blossoms, And the westwind fatigues itself with rhapsodizing, Rhapsodizes and wafts many a white petal Down upon your hats.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translations of title(s):
"Lied an den Maÿ" = "Song to May"
"Mailied" = "May song"
"Maÿlied" = "May song"
"Tanzliedchen im Mai" = "Dancing song in May"
2 Meyer-Olbersleben: "young"
3 Meyer-Olbersleben:
In your sun-hats Wander out to the springtime meadow! Sing a joyful May-song, Pick a bouquet of flowers! Flee from the city's beclouded parapets! Here, where May and love calls you, Breathe, lovely city girls, Breathe in the fresh May air!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Mailied"
This text was added to the website: 2022-05-13
Line count: 32
Word count: 179