English translations of Sechs erotische Gesänge, opus 2

by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862)

1. Wenn still mit seinen letzten Flammen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862), "Wenn still mit seinen letzten Flammen", op. 2 (Sechs erotische Gesänge) no. 1, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs erotische Gesänge für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 1, Leipzig, W. Hansen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn still [mit]1 seinen letzten Flammen
Der Abend in das Meer versank,
Dann wandeln [traulich wir]2 zusammen
Am [Waldgestad im]3 Buchengang.

Wir sehn den Mond [durch]4 Wolken steigen,
Wir hören fern die Nachtigall,
Wir atmen Düfte, doch wir schweigen -
Was soll der Worte leerer Schall?

Das höchste Glück hat keine Lieder,
Der Liebe Lust ist still und mild;
Ein Kuß, ein Blicken hin und wieder,
Und alle Sehnsucht ist gestillt.

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1 Pache: "in"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Sucher: "wir traulich"
3 Randhartinger and some other editions of Geibel: "Ufer in dem"; Sucher: "Ufer durch den"
4 Sucher: "aus"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. When quietly, with its last flamesWhen quietly, with its last flames, The evening sank into the sea, Together we affectionately wandered The beech-lined path along the forested shore. We saw the moon climb through the clouds, We heard a distant nightingale, We inhaled fragrances, and were quite silent – What need for the empty sound of words? The greatest happiness has no songs, The pleasure of love is quiet and gentle; A kiss, a shared glance and once again, And all yearning is stilled.
Language: English 
When quietly, with its last flames,
The evening sank into the sea, 
Together we affectionately wandered
The beech-lined path along the forested shore.

We saw the moon climb through the clouds,
We heard a distant nightingale,
We inhaled fragrances, and were quite silent –
What need for the empty sound of words? 

The greatest happiness has no songs,
The pleasure of love is quiet and gentle;
A kiss, a shared glance and once again,
And all yearning is stilled.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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Translations of title(s):
"Abendstille" = "Evening Quiet"
"Gestillte Sehnsucht" = "Stilled Yearning"
"Liebesglück" = "Love's Happiness"
"Stilles Glück" = "Quiet Happiness"
"Wenn still in seinen letzten Flammen" = "When quietly, with its last flames"
"Wenn still mit seinen letzten Flammen" = "When quietly, with its last flamesWhen quietly, with its last flames, The evening sank into the sea, Together we affectionately wandered The beech-lined path along the forested shore. We saw the moon climb through the clouds, We heard a distant nightingale, We inhaled fragrances, and were quite silent – What need for the empty sound of words? The greatest happiness has no songs, The pleasure of love is quiet and gentle; A kiss, a shared glance and once again, And all yearning is stilled."



This text was added to the website: 2022-11-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 79

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Vorüber  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862), "Vorüber", op. 2 (Sechs erotische Gesänge) no. 2, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs erotische Gesänge für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 2, Leipzig, W. Hansen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O darum ist der [Lenz]1 so schön
Mit Duft und Strahl und Lied,
Weil singend über [Thal]2 und Höhn
So bald er [weiter zieht]3;

[Und]4 darum ist so süß der Traum,
[Den erste Liebe webt]5,
Weil schneller [wie]6 die Blüt' am Baum
Er [hinwelkt]7 und verschwebt.

Und doch! Er läßt so still erwärmt,
So reich das Herz zurück;
Ich hab' geliebt, ich hab' geschwärmt,
Ich preis' auch das ein Glück.

Gesogen hab' ich Strahl auf Strahl
In's Herz den kurzen Tag;
Die schöne Sonne sinkt zu Thal.
Nun [komme]8 was kommen mag!

Sei's bittres Leid, sei's neue Lust,
Es soll getragen sein:
Der [sichre]9 Schatz in meiner Brust
Bleibt dennoch [ewig]10 mein.

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibels Gesammelte Werke in acht Bänden, Erster Band, Jugendgedichte. Zeitstimmen. Sonette. Stuttgart: Verlag der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1883, pages 12-13.

Note: in Hackel's setting, stanza 5, line 4, word 3 ("immer") returns to the original word "ewig" in the repetition.

1 Kehler: "Tag"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Lehár: "Flur"
3 Lehár: "weiterzieht"
4 Hackel: "O"
5 Hackel: "Der erste Liebe weckt"
6 Hackel, Lehár: "als"
7 Hackel, Lehár: "welket"
8 Lehár: "komm'"
9 Hackel: "stille"
10 Hackel: "immer"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2.
Language: English 
Oh, that is why [springtime]1 is so lovely
With scent and [sun]beam and song,
Because with singing over [valleys]2 and heights
It so quickly [moves on]3;

[And]3 that is why the dream is so sweet,
The dream [woven]4 by first love,
Because more quickly than the blossom upon the tree,
It wilts and dissipates.

And yet! it leaves the heart 
So quietly warmed and enriched;
I have loved, I have rhapsodized,
I praise that as a happiness as well.

I have imbibed beam upon beam
Into my heart during the short day;
The beautiful sun sinks to the valley.
Now come what may!

Be it bitter woe, be it new joy,
It shall be borne:
The [safe]5 treasure in my breast
Nevertheless remains mine [eternally]6.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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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Translations of title(s):
"O darum ist der Lenz so schön" = "Oh, that is why springtime is so lovely"
"Vorüber!" = "Past!"



This text was added to the website: 2024-06-27
Line count: 20
Word count: 133

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Es fällt ein Stern herunter  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862), "Es fällt ein Stern herunter", op. 2 (Sechs erotische Gesänge) no. 3, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs erotische Gesänge für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 3, Leipzig, W. Hansen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es fällt ein Stern herunter
Aus seiner funkelnden Höh;
Das ist der Stern der Liebe,
Den ich dort fallen seh.
 
Es fallen vom Apfelbaume,
Der [weißen Blätter so viel]1,
Es kommen die neckenden [Lüfte]2,
Und treiben damit ihr Spiel.
 
Es singt [der]3 Schwan im [Weiher]4,
Und rudert auf und ab,
Und immer leiser singend,
Taucht er ins Flutengrab.
 
Es ist so still und [dunkel]5!
Verweht ist Blatt und Blüt',
Der Stern ist knisternd zerstoben,
Verklungen das Schwanenlied.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 163.

1 Backer-Grøndahl, Haine: "Blüten und Blätter viel"; Cui, Gernsheim, Pfitzner: "Blüten und Blätter so viel"; Mangold: "weißen Blätter viel"; Unger: "Blätter und Blüten viel"
2 Gernsheim: "Winde"
3 Unger: "ein"
4 Gernsheim: "Wasser"
5 Haine, Mangold: "so dunkel"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. A star is tumbling downward
Language: English 
A star is tumbling downward
From where it sparkled on high,
It is the star for lovers,
That falling there I spy.

The apple tree has been shedding
White petals abundantly
Along come the breezes so teasing
And toying with the debris.

The swan sings in the water,
And paddles o'er each wave,
And singing ever softer,
Dives to his watery grave.

It is so dark and silent,
Swept off are bloom and leaf,
The star has fizzled and scattered;
And faded, the swan's song, so brief.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 87

Translation © by Walter Meyer
4. Die blauen Frühlingsaugen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862), "Die blauen Frühlingsaugen", op. 2 (Sechs erotische Gesänge) no. 4, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs erotische Gesänge für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 4, Leipzig, W. Hansen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Die blauen Frühlingsaugen
Schau'n aus dem Gras [hervor]1;
Das sind die [lieben]2 Veilchen,
Die ich zum Strauß erkor.

  Ich pflücke sie und denke,
Und die Gedanken all,
Die mir im Herzen seufzen,
Singt laut die Nachtigall.

  [Ja,]3 was ich denke, singt sie
[Lautschmetternd]4, daß es schallt;
Mein zärtliches Geheimnis
Weiß schon der ganze Wald.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 243

1 Decker: "empor"
2 Methfessel: "blauen"
3 Decker: "Und"
4 Methfessel, Thuille: "Und schmettert"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. The blue eyes of spring
Language: English 
  The blue eyes of spring 
Peep [forth]1 from the grass;
Those are the [dear]2 violets
That I chose for a bouquet.

  I pick them and I ponder,
And all of the thoughts
That are sighing within my heart,
The nightingale sings them loudly.

  [Yes,]3 what I'm thinking, [the nightingale] sings
[Like a loud]4 clarion, so that it resounds;
My most tender secret
Is already known to the whole wood.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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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Translations of title(s):
"Frühlingslied II" = "Spring song II"
"Schubert" = "Schubert"
"Im Frühling" = "In spring"
"Verratene Liebe" = "Revealed love"
"Das verrathene Geheimniss" = "The revealed secret"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Neuer Frühling" = "New spring"
"Die blauen Frühlingsaugen schau'n aus dem Gras hervor" = "The blue eyes of spring peep forth from the grass"
"Lautes Geheimnis" = "Open secret"
"Verratene Liebe: Duett" = "Revealed love: duet"
"Das Veilchen" = "The violet"
"Die blauen Frühlingsaugen" = "The blue eyes of spring"
"Frühlingsaugen" = "Eyes of spring"
"Duett" = "Duet"

1 von Decker "up"
2 Methfessel "blue"
3 von Decker "And"
4 Methfessel "And like a"


This text was added to the website: 2018-04-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Die du mein Alles bist  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862), "Die du mein Alles bist", op. 2 (Sechs erotische Gesänge) no. 5, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs erotische Gesänge für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 5, Leipzig, W. Hansen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du weißt es wohl, daß du mein Alles bist;
O wende nicht dein schönes Aug' von mir,
Red' ich von unsrer Liebe Glück mit dir,
    Die du mein Alles bist!
 
Du weißt es wohl, daß du mein Alles bist;
O sieh beneidend nicht den Blumen nach,
Die früh verblüht von hinnen führt der Bach,
    Die du mein Alles bist!
 
Du weißt es wohl, daß du mein Alles bist;
O bald, ich fühl's, wirst du gestorben sein
Und lässest dieses arme Herz allein,
    Dem du sein Alles bist!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von J.G. Fischer, Stuttgart und Tübingen: J.G. Cotta'scher Verlag, 1854, page 67.


by Johann Georg Fischer (1816 - 1897)
5.
Language: English 
You know well that you are everything to me;
Oh, do not turn your lovely eyes from me
When I speak to you of our love’s happiness,
    You who are everything to me!

You know well that you are everything to me;
Oh, do not gaze enviously after the flowers
That, soon faded, the brook carries away,
    You who are everything to me!

You know well that you are everything to me;
Oh soon, I feel it, you shall be dead
And leave this poor heart alone,
    [This heart] to which you are everything!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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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Translations of title(s):
"Du weißt es wohl" = "You know well"
"Du weißt es wohl, daß du mein Alles bist" = "You know well that you are everything to me"
"Die du mein allest bist" = "You who are everything to me"
"Mein Alles" = "Everything to me"



This text was added to the website: 2020-02-05
Line count: 12
Word count: 94

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Perlenfischer  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Rosenberg (b. 1862), "Perlenfischer", op. 2 (Sechs erotische Gesänge) no. 6, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs erotische Gesänge für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte, no. 6, Leipzig, W. Hansen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du liebes Auge, [willst dich tauchen]1,
In meines [Augs]2 [geheimste]3 Tiefe,
Zu [spähen]4, wo in blauen Gründen
Verborgen eine Perle schliefe?

Du liebes Auge, tauche nieder,
Und in die klare Tiefe dringe
Und lächle, wenn ich dir [dein Bildniß]5
Als schönste Perle wiederbringe.

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Confirmed with Otto Roquette, Liederbuch, Stuttgart und Tübingen: J.G. Cotta’scher Verlag, 1852, page 59

1 Röhmeyer: "tauche nieder"
2 Franz, Reger: "Aug's"
3 Wolf: "geheimster"
4 Wolf: "späh'n"
5 Wolf: "dies Bild"

by Otto Roquette (1824 - 1896)
6. Pearl fishers
Language: English 
You dear eyes, would you submerge yourselves
Into the most secret depths of my eyes,
To espy, where in blue seabeds
A pearl sleeps concealed?

You dear eyes, plunge down,
And penetrate into the clear depths,
And smile when I return to you
[Your own]1 image as the most beautiful pearl.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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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Translations of title(s):
"Du liebes Auge willst dich tauchen" = "You dear eyes, would you submerge yourself"
"Du liebes Auge" = "You dear eyes"
"Perlenfischer" = "Pearl fishers"

1 Wolf: "this"


This text was added to the website: 2017-09-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 52

Translation © by Sharon Krebs