Five German Poems

Song Cycle by Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884 - 1920)

Word count: 362

1. Auf dem Teich, dem Regungslosen [sung text checked 1 time]

Auf dem Teich, dem Regungslosen,
Weilt des Mondes holder Glanz,
Flechtend seine bleichen Rosen
In des Schilfes grünen Kranz.

Hirsche wandeln dort am Hügel,
Blicken [in]¹ die Nacht empor;
Manchmal regt sich das Geflügel
Träumerisch im tiefen Rohr.

Weinend muß mein Blick sich senken;
Durch die tiefste Seele geht
Mir ein süßes Deingedenken,
Wie ein stilles Nachtgebet.

Authorship

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Sehnsucht, in Schilflieder, no. 5 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "On the pond, the motionless one", copyright ©
ENG English [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "On the pond's serene reposes", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English [singable] (Robert Schall) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Sullo stagno, senza un'onda", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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¹ Mendelssohn: "durch"

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Auf geheimem Waldespfade [sung text checked 1 time]

Auf geheimem Waldespfade
Schleich' ich gern im Abendschein
An das öde Schilfgestade,
Mädchen, und gedenke dein!

Wenn sich dann der Busch verdüstert,
Rauscht das Rohr geheimnisvoll,
Und es klaget und es flüstert,
Daß ich weinen, weinen soll.

Und ich mein', ich höre wehen
Leise deiner Stimme Klang,
Und im Weiher untergehen
Deinen lieblichen Gesang.

Authorship

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Sehnsucht, in Schilflieder, no. 3 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó del canyís", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , no title, copyright ©
ENG English [singable] (Louisa Loring Dresel)
ENG English [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Hidden trails through forest's secrets", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English [singable] (Robert Schall) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canto del canneto", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
POR Portuguese (Português) (Elke Beatriz Riedel) , "A Canção dos Juncos", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. By a lonely forest pathway [sung text checked 1 time]

By a lonely forest pathway
I am fain at eve to flee
To the dreary rushy beaches,
Dearest, there to dream of thee!

And I watch the woods grow darker,
Hear the reeds' mysterious sighs,
Hear them whisp'ring and complaining,
Till my tears, my tears arise.

And I fancy 'tis the accents
Of thy voice that round me play,
Till the music of thy singing
On the water dies away.

Authorship

by Henry Grafton Chapman (1860 - 1913), "By a lonely forest pathway" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on

a text in German (Deutsch) by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Sehnsucht, in Schilflieder, no. 3

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen [sung text checked 1 time]

Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen,
Krankes Herz und müde Glieder; -
Ach, da fließt, wie stiller Segen,
Süßer Mond, dein Licht hernieder;

Süßer Mond, mit deinen Strahlen
Scheuchest du das nächt'ge Grauen;
Es zerrinnen meine Qualen,
Und die Augen übertauen.

Authorship

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 86, first published 1826/7 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Night lies on the unfamiliar roads", copyright ©
ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Note: first included in Rheinische Flora, no. 12

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Night on ways unknown has fallen [sung text checked 1 time]

Night on ways unknown has fallen,
Sick my heart, my members weary;
Lo, in silent benediction
Comes thy light, sweet moon, to cheer me.

Ah, sweet moon, with gentle radiance
All my nightborn fears thou stillest;
All my troubles fade and vanish,
And mine eyes with tears thou fillest.

Authorship

Singable translation by Henry Grafton Chapman (1860 - 1913) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Based on

a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 86, first published 1826/7

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Researcher for this text: Johann Winkler

4. Der träumende See [sung text checked 1 time]

Der See [ruht]¹ tief im [blauem]² Traum
Von Wasserblumen zugedeckt;
Ihr Vöglein hoch im [Fichtenbaum]³,
Daß ihr mir nicht den Schläfer weckt!

Doch leise weht das Schilf und wiegt 
Das Haupt mit leichtem Sinn;
Ein blauer Falter aber fliegt
Darüber einsam hin.

Authorship

by Julius Mosen (1803 - 1867), "Der träumende See" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

View original text (without footnotes)
¹ H. Bach (as Molbe): "liegt"; further changes may exist not noted.
² Fibich, Griffes, Hermes, Schumann, Volkmann: "blauen" ; further changes may exist for Hermes not noted above.
³ Fibich: "Eichenbaum"

Research team for this text: Dr. Gerrit den Hartogh , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]

5. Wohl lag' ich einst in Gram und Schmerz [sung text checked 1 time]

Wohl lag' ich einst in Gram und Schmerz,
Da weint' ich Nacht und Tag;
Nun wein' ich wieder, weil mein Herz
Sein Glück nicht fassen mag.

Mir ist's, als trüg' ich in der Brust
Das ganze Himmelreich!
O höchstes Leid, o höchste Lust,
Wie seid ihr euch so gleich!

Authorship

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Wohl lag' ich einst in Gram und Schmerz", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lieder als Intermezzo, no. 20 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

Researcher for this text: John Versmoren