English translations of Zwei Duette für Sopran und Tenor mit Pianoforte, opus 106

by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911)

1. Wenn still in seinen letzten Flammen  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Wenn still in seinen letzten Flammen", op. 106 (Zwei Duette für Sopran und Tenor mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1893 [ vocal duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
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 flames
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. Im Wald, im hellen Sonnenschein  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Im Wald, im hellen Sonnenschein", op. 106 (Zwei Duette für Sopran und Tenor mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1893 [ vocal duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], Leipzig, Leuckart
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Wald, im hellen Sonnenschein
Wenn alle Knospen springen,
[Da]1 mag ich gerne mittendrein
Eins singen.

Wie mir zu Muth in Leid und Lust,
Im Wachen und im Träumen,
Das stimm' ich an aus voller Brust
Den Bäumen.

Und sie verstehen mich gar fein,
Die Blätter alle lauschen,
Und fall'n am rechten Orte ein,
Mit Rauschen.

Und weiter [wandelt]2 Schall und Hall,
In Wipfeln, Fels und Büschen.
Hell schmettert auch Frau Nachtigall
Dazwischen.

Da fühlt die Brust am eignen Klang,
Sie darf sich was erkühnen --
O [frische Lust: Gesang! Gesang]3
Im Grünen!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel. Erste wohlfeile Ausgabe, Nijmegen, AE. Timmerman, 1846, pages 74-75. Modern German would change the spelling "Muth" -> "Mut"

1 Hensel, Raff, Sahr, Thuille: "Dann"
2 Raff: "wandert"
3 Randhartinger, Thuille: "frische Luft: Gesang! Gesang"; Zöllner: "frischer, froher Lustgesang"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. In the forest, in bright sunshine
Language: English 
In the forest, in bright sunshine,
when all the buds spring up,
it is right in the middle of there that I like
to sing a song.

According to my mood, in sorrow and joy,
awake and in dreams,
I give it voice with full heart
to the trees.

And they understand me to the letter,
the leaves eavesdrop
and fall in at the right place,
with rustling.

And the sound and echo wander farther,
through the treetops, rocks, and bushes.
Miss Nightingale also blares away brightly
in the midst of it all.

Then, when the heart hears its own sound,
it feels it can do whatever it dares to,
oh what a lively pleasure, a song, a song
among the greenery.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Joel Ayau, (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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2008-12-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 122

Translation © by Joel Ayau