English translations of Drei Lieder, opus 14

by (Karl Friedrich) Gustav Brah-Müller (1839 - 1878)

1. Vesper  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl Friedrich) Gustav Brah-Müller (1839 - 1878), "Vesper", op. 14 (Drei Lieder) no. 1 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Challier
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Abendglocken [klangen]1
  Schon durch das stille Thal,
Da saßen wir zusammen
  Da droben wohl hundertmal.

Und unten war's so stille
  Im Lande weit und breit,
Nur über uns die Linde
  Rauscht' durch die Einsamkeit.

Was gehn die Glocken heute,
  Als ob ich weinen müßt'?
Die Glocken, die bedeuten
  Daß mein Lieb' gestorben ist!

Ich wollt', ich läg' begraben,
  Und über mir rauschte weit
Die Linde jeden Abend
  Von [der alten, schönen]2 Zeit!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff, Leipzig: C.F. Amelangs Verlag, 1892, page 262.

1 Spohr: "tönen"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Moór: "der schönen, alten"; Thelen: "alter und schöner"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. Vespers
Language: English 
The evening bells were already
  [Ringing]1 in the quiet valley
When we sat together
  Up there, surely a hundred times.
 
And down below it was so quiet
  In the countryside far and wide,
Only the linden tree above us
  Soughed in the solitude.
 
How are the bells ringing today
  As if I must weep?
The bells signify
  That my love has died!
 
I wish that I lay buried
  And that above me broadly [spread out]
The linden tree soughed every evening
  Of [the old, beautiful time]2.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translated titles:
"Vesper" = "Vespers"
"Die Abendglocken" = "Evening bells"
1 Spohr: "sounding"; further changes may exist not shown above.
1 Thelen: "olden and beautiful times"


This text was added to the website: 2015-06-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 89

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Ihr Bild  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Karl Friedrich) Gustav Brah-Müller (1839 - 1878), "Ihr Bild", op. 14 (Drei Lieder) no. 3
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich stand in [dunkeln]1 Träumen
Und [starrte]2 ihr Bildniß an,
Und das geliebte Antlitz
Heimlich zu leben begann.
 
Um ihre Lippen zog sich
Ein Lächeln wunderbar,
Und wie von Wehmuthsthränen
[Erglänzte]3 [ihr]4 Augenpaar.
 
Auch meine Thränen flossen
Mir von [den Wangen]5 herab -- 
Und ach, ich [kann es]6 nicht glauben,
Daß ich Dich verloren hab'!

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 201; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 27.

1 Mendel: "dunklen"
2 Beach, Grieg, Schubert: "starrt'"
3 Hinrichs: "das"
4 Voss: "erglänzt"
5 Voss: "der Wang'"
6 Grieg, Hinrichs, Mendel, Schumann, Voss: "kann's"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Her portrait
Language: English 
I stood in gloomy daydreams
and gazed at her portrait,
and that well-beloved countenance
began furtively to come to life.

About her lips there seemed to glide 
a wondrous smile,
and, as if they were about to fill with nostalgic tears,
her eyes glistened.
 
And my tears flowed
down my cheeks -
and ah, I cannot believe
that I have lost you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 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
"Ihr Bildnis" = "Her portrait"
"Ihr Bild" = "Her portrait"
"Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen" = "I stood in gloomy daydreams"



This text was added to the website: 2017-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Emily Ezust