English translations of Drei Lieder für Alt (oder Bariton) mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 16

by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932)

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1. Schilflied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Schilflied", op. 16 (Drei Lieder für Alt (oder Bariton) mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1885 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Berlin, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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.

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1 Mendelssohn: "durch"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. On the pond, the motionless one
Language: English 
 On the pond, the motionless one,
 rests the moon's lovely gleam,
 weaving its pale roses
 into a green garland of reeds.
 
 Deer wander there on the hill,
 gazing up through the night;
 often, winged things stir
 dreamily in the tall reeds.
 
 Weeping, I must lower my gaze;
 through the depths of my soul pass
 sweet thoughts of you,
 like a quiet night prayer.

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: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Tragische Geschichte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Tragische Geschichte", op. 16 (Drei Lieder für Alt (oder Bariton) mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1887 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Berlin, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
's war einer, dem's zu Herzen ging,
Daß ihm der Zopf nach hinten hing,
Er wollt es anders haben.

Da denkt er denn, wie fang ich's an?
Ich dreh' mich 'rum, so ist's getan,
Der Zopf, der hängt ihm hinten.

Da hat er flink sich umgedreht,
Und wie es stund, es annoch steht:
Der Zopf, der hängt ihm hinten.

Da dreht er schnell sich anders 'rum,
's wird aber noch nicht besser drum,
Der Zopf, der hängt ihm hinten.

Er dreht sich links, er dreht sich rechts,
Er tut nichts Guts, er tut nichts Schlechts,
Der Zopf, der hängt ihm hinten.

Er dreht sich wie ein Kreisel fort,
Es hilft zu nichts, mit einem Wort -
Der Zopf, der hängt ihm hinten.

Und seht, er dreht sich immer noch
Und denkt, es hilft am Ende doch,
Der Zopf, der hängt ihm hinten.

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by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
2. There once was a man who took it amiss
Language: English 
 There once was a man who took it amiss
 that his ponytail hung behind him:
 he wanted a change.
 
 He thinks, then, where shall I begin?
 I'll turn myself around, and that's how it'll be done;
 but the ponytail hangs behind him.
 
 He turned about suddenly,
 and as it was, it still remains:
 the ponytail hangs behind him.
 
 He turns quickly the other way,
 but it does no better for it:
 the ponytail hangs behind him.
 
 He turns left, he turns right,
 but he does neither good nor harm:
 the ponytail hangs behind him.
 
 He spins around like a top,
 but it does not help: in short -
 the ponytail hangs behind him.
 
 And look: he's still turning!
 he thinks it will help in the end;
 yet the ponytail still hangs behind him.

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 133

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Frühlingsglaube  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Ries (1846 - 1932), "Frühlingsglaube", op. 16 (Drei Lieder für Alt (oder Bariton) mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1870 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Bielefeld, Sulzer
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die [linden]1 Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie [säuseln und weben]2 Tag und Nacht,
Sie [schaffen]3 an allen Enden.
O [frischer]4 Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun armes Herze, sey nicht bang!
Nun muß sich [Alles, Alles]5 wenden.

Die Welt wird schöner [mit]5 jedem Tag,
Man weiß nicht, was noch [werden]6 mag,
Das Blühen [will]7 nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, [tiefste]8 Thal.
Nun armes [Herz]9, vergiß [der]10 Qual!
Nun muß sich [Alles, Alles]11 wenden.

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Confirmed with Deutscher Dichterwald. von Justinus Kerner, Friedrich Baron de la Motte Fouqué, Ludwig Uhland und Andern. Tübingen in der J. F. Heerbrandt'schen Buchhandlung. 1813, page 5; and with Gedichte von Ludwig Uhland. Stuttgart und Tübingen in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 54.

Note: some editions have a typo in stanza 1, line 2: word 4 is "wehen". Lachner's score also has this typo.

1 Klein: "lauen"
2 Kittl: "säuseln, weben"
3 Hanslick: "schaff'n"
4 Kittl, Unger: "süßer"
5 Kittl, Hanslick: "Alles"
6 Goetz: "kommen"
7 Goetz: "es will"
8 Kittl: "stillste"
9 Goetz: "Herze"
10 Kittl: "die"
11 Hanslick: "Alles"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3.
Language: English 
Balmy breezes are awakened,
They whisper and move day and night,
And everywhere creative.
O fresh scent, o new sound!
Now, poor heart, don't be afraid.
Now all, all must change.

With each day the world grows fairer,
One cannot know what is still to come,
The flowering refuses to cease.
Even the deepest, most distant valley is in flower.
Now, poor heart, forget your torment.
Now all, all must change.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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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Translation of title "Frühlingsglaube" = "Spring faith"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by David Gordon