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Wozu der Vöglein Chöre belauschen fern und nah? Das Schönste, was ich höre, ist deine Stimme ja. Ob die Gestirne flimmern, ob Nebel sie verhüllt, die schönsten Sterne flimmern in deinen Augen mild, Ob Frühling überziehet mit Blumen Feld und Flur, die schönste Blume blühet in deinem Herzen nur. Die Stimme süß und klagend, des Auges Stern so rein, Die Blume, Düfte tragend, das muß die Liebe sein.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Karl Ferdinand von Dräxler-Manfred (1806 - 1879) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "La Chanson des Lavandieres", appears in Ruy Blas, Act 2, Scene 1, first published 1838
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Lied aus Ruy Blas", op. posth. 77 (Drei Lieder für zwei Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 (1836), published 1849 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text checked 1 time] - by Frank Valentin Van der Stucken (1858 - 1929), "Serenade", op. 17 (Acht Lieder) no. 8, published 1892 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Luckhardt [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song from Ruy Blas", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 68
Why listen to the choirs Of birds both near and far? The most beautiful thing I hear Is in any case your voice. Whether the stars twinkle, Whether they are shrouded in mist, The most beautiful stars shimmer In your gentle eyes. Whether spring covers The fields and meadows with flowers, The most beautiful flower blooms In your heart alone. The voice, sweet and lamenting, The pure star of your eyes, The flower, bearing scents-- That must be love.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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 Karl Ferdinand von Dräxler-Manfred (1806 - 1879)
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "La Chanson des Lavandieres", appears in Ruy Blas, Act 2, Scene 1, first published 1838
This text was added to the website: 2011-08-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 79