English translations of Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor, opus 19

by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941)

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1. Mondnacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941), "Mondnacht", op. 19 (Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 1, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war, als [hätt']1 der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm [nun]2 träumen müßt.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog [durch]3 die stillen [Lande]4,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

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Note for line 1: on the repetition in Thuille's song, "hätt'" becomes "hätte".

1 Hutter: "ob"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Brahms, Schumann: "nur"
3 Thuille: "über"
4 Brahms: "Räume"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. Moonlit night
Language: English 
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that, glistening with blossoms,
She must only dream of him.1

The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.

And my soul stretched 
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Translation of title "Mondnacht" = "Moonlit night"
1 In German, "Die Erde" (the earth) is feminine and "Der Himmel" (the sky) is masculine.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Andenken  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941), "Andenken", op. 19 (Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 2, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein Bildnis wunderselig
Hab ich im Herzensgrund,
Das sieht so [frisch]1 und fröhlich
Mich an zu jeder Stund'.

Mein Herz still in sich singet
Ein altes schönes Lied,
Das [in die Luft sich schwinget]2
Und [zu dir eilig]3 zieht.

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1 Jensen: "froh"
2 Jensen: "durch die Seele klinget"
3 Jensen: "eilig zu dir"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. Thoughts
Language: English 
Your blissful, wonderful image 
I have in my heart's depths;
it looks so freshly and joyously
at me in every moment.

My heart sings mutely to itself
an old, beautiful song
that soars into the air
and hastens to your side.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Translations of titles
"Dein Bildniss wunderselig" = "Your blissful, wonderful image"
"Dein Bildnis wunderselig" = "Your blissful, wonderful image"
"Intermezzo" = "Intermezzo"
"Andenken" = "Thoughts"
"Dein Bildniss" = "Your image"
"Dein Bildnis" = "Your image"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Der verzweifelte Liebhaber  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941), "Der verzweifelte Liebhaber", op. 19 (Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 3, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Studieren will nichts bringen,
mein Rock hält keinen Stich,
meine Zither will nicht klingen,
mein Schatz, der mag mich nicht.

Ich wollt', im Grün spazierte
die allerschönste Frau,
ich wär' ein Drach' und führte
sie mit mir fort durchs Blau.

Ich wollt', ich jagt' gerüstet
und legt' die Lanze aus,
und jagte alle Philister
zur schönen Welt hinaus.

Ich wollt', ich läg' jetztunder
im Himmel still und weit
und fragt' nach all' dem Plunder
nichts vor Zufriedenheit.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. The despairing lover
Language: English 
 Studying will not help,
 my coat has no stitching left,
 my zither won't resonate:
 my beloved does not want me.
 
 I wish that on the green,
 the most beautiful woman were strolling,
 and that I were a dragon, and could carry her
 off with me through the blue skies.
 
 I wish I were decked out for the hunt
 and had my lance displayed;
 I would flush all the philistines
 out from this lovely world.
 
 I wish I were lying now
 in the calm, broad sky
 and did not need to think about anything
 but my contentment.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Waldeinsamkeit  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941), "Waldeinsamkeit", op. 19 (Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 4, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Waldeinsamkeit!
Du [grünes]1 Revier,
Wie liegt so weit
Die Welt von hier!
Schlaf nur, wie bald
Kommt der Abend schön,
Durch den stillen Wald
Die Quellen gehn,
Die Mutter Gottes wacht,
Mit ihrem Sternenkleid
Bedeckt sie dich sacht
In der Waldeinsamkeit,
[Gute Nacht,]2 Gute Nacht! -

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Confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorff's Werke. Dritter Theil. Dichter und ihre Gesellen. Krieg den Philistern, Berlin, Verlegt von M. Simion, 1841, pages 254-255.

1 Wolff: "schönes"
2 omitted by Wolff.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4.
[Translation not yet available]
5. Schiffergruss  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941), "Schiffergruss", op. 19 (Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 5, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Stolzes Schiff mit seidnen Schwingen,
Fährst mein Boot zu Grunde schier.
Sang von Bord und Lauten klingen,
O du fröhl'cher Schiffsherr, dir.
Ich muss selbst mein Lied mir singen,
Nur der Sturmwind singt mit mir.

Stolzes Schiff, wenn deine Feuer
Nachts verlöscht beim falben Licht,
Steht ein Fremder an dem Steuer,
Mit den Winden laut er spricht,
Und die Wogen rauschen scheuer,
Trau dem finstren Bootsmann nicht!

Gleiche Winde, gleiche Wellen,
Reiches Schiff und armes Boot,
Nach demselben Strande schwellen.
Deine Hoffart, meine Not
Wird an einem Riff zerschellen,
Denn der Bootsmann ist der Tod.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
5.
[Translation not yet available]
6. Die Kleine  [sung text not yet checked]
by Heinrich Zöllner (1854 - 1941), "Die Kleine", op. 19 (Sechs Gedichte von Eichendorff für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 6, published 1883 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Siegel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zwischen Bergen, liebe Mutter,
Weit den Wald entlang,
Reiten da drei junge Jäger
Auf drei Rösslein blank,
         lieb' Mutter,
Auf drei Rößlein blank.

Ihr könnt fröhlich sein, lieb' Mutter,
Wird es draußen still:
Kommt der Vater heim vom Walde,
Küßt Euch, wie er will,
         lieb' Mutter,
Küßt Euch, wie er will.

Und ich werfe mich im Bettchen
Nachts ohn' Unterlaß,
Kehr' mich links und kehr' mich rechts hin,
Nirgends hab' ich was,
         lieb' Mutter,
Nirgends hab' ich was.

Bin ich eine Frau [erst einmal]1,
In der Nacht dann still
Wend' ich mich nach allen Seiten,
Küß, soviel ich will,
         lieb' Mutter,
Küß, soviel ich will.

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Confirmed with Joseph Freiherrn von Eichendorffs sämtliche poetische Werke. Dritte Auflage. Erster Band. Gedichte, Leipzig, C. F. Amelang's Verlag, 1883, pages 200-201.

1 Bungert: "einmal erst"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
6. The little girl
Language: English 
Between the mountains, dear mother,
Far along the forest,
Three young huntsmen are riding
On three shining horses,
      dear mother!
On three shining horses.

You can be happy, dear mother,
When it becomes quiet outdoors;
Father comes home from the forest
[And] you can kiss each other as much as you want,
      dear mother!
You can kiss each other as much as you want,

[And I toss about
In my little bed at night without end,
I turn to left and I turn to right
Nowhere do I have anything,
     dear mother. 
Nowhere do I have anything.

When I am finally a woman
In the quiet night then
I will turn to all sides
And kiss as much as I want to,
     dear mother. 
And kiss as much as I want to.]1

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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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1 Holstein's version would be translated as follows (also by Sharon Krebs): 
In my heart a curious anxiety
Throbs without ceasing,
Often with fervent tears of yearning
My pillow becomes wet,
        dear mother,
My pillow becomes wet.
 
When I am finally a woman
[And] it grows quiet outdoors,
I shall hold my beloved embraced,
[And] kiss as much as I want to,
        dear mother,
[And] kiss as much as I want to.


This text was added to the website: 2008-09-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs