English translations of Vier Gesänge für gemischten Chor, opus 84

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

1. Nun ist's mit dem Schreiben zu End  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Nun ist's mit dem Schreiben zu End", op. 84 no. 1, published 1889 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: J. Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Nun ist's mit dem Schreiben zu End,
Und geben wir, Schatz, uns die Händ! 
  Und lesen wir's frisch aus den Augen uns Beid, 
Wie treu wir uns lieben in Freud' und in Leid! 
  Nun ist's mit dem Schreiben zu End,
Und geben wir, Schatz, uns die Händ!

  So arm nur ist, was ich dir schrieb,
Hab mehr noch, viel mehr noch dich lieb!
  Kein Lied in der Welt, ach kein Lied ja sagt's ganz, 
Wie reich auch sein Duft und wie reich auch sein Glanz!
  So arm nur ist, was ich dir schrieb, 
Hab mehr noch, viel mehr noch dich lieb!

  Vergessen ist Leid nun und Schmerz,
Ach, drück' ich dich wieder an's Herz!
  Ein Kuß nun, der sagt's und ein Blick und ein Gruß
Viel besser, wie ewig ich lieben dich muß! 
  Vergessen ist Leid nun und Schmerz. 
  Ach, drück' ich dich wieder an's Herz!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 197-198.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
1. Now there is an end to the letter-writing!
Language: English 
  Now there is an end to the letter-writing!
And let us, my darling, give each other our hands!
  And let us read anew from each other's eyes
How faithfully we love one another in joy and in sorrow!
  Now there is an end to the letter-writing!
And let us, my darling, give each other our hands!

  So inadequate is that which I wrote to you,
For I love you more, much more than that!
  No poem in the world, ah no poem can quite express it,
No matter how rich its scent and how rich its radiance!
  So inadequate is that which I wrote to you,
For I love you more, much more than that!

  Sorrow and pain are now forgotten,
Ah, now that I press you once more to my heart!
  One kiss now, that says it, and a glance and a greeting
Say it much better, how I must love you forever!
    Sorrow and pain are now forgotten,
Ah, now that I press you once more to my heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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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This text was added to the website: 2026-04-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 172

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Herz und Laute  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Herz und Laute", op. 84 no. 2, published 1889 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: J. Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
   Dir geb' ich Alles was ich habe, 
   Und mag's auch wenig sein: 
   Das Herz, die Laute -- diese Gabe
   Ist, was ich nenne mein.
Die Laute, deren Klang so leis
Von heißer Liebe klagt;
Und dann das Herz, das mehr noch weiß
Als Dir die Laute sagt.

   Wohl hindern Sang und Liebe nimmer
   Der düstern Wolken Zug;
   Doch leih'n sie ihnen gold'nen Schimmer
  Und fördern ihren Flug.
Fällt in des Lebens Zaubersang
Der Sorge Mißlaut ein,
Und Liebe rührt der Saiten Klang, --
Tönt's wieder süß und rein!

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Confirmed with Rose und Distel, Poesien aus England und Schottland, übertragen von Gisbert Freiherrn Vincke, Dessau: Druck und Verlag von Gebrüder Katz, 1853, page 116.


by Gisbert, Freiherr von Vincke (1813 - 1892)
2. Heart and Lute
Language: English 
   I give to you all that I have,
   And though it be but little:
   My heart, my lute -- this gift
   Is what I call my own.
My lute, whose tones so quietly
Lament of fervent love;
And then my heart that knows far more yet
Than that which the lute says to you.

   To be sure, singing and love never hinder
   The scudding of the dark clouds;
   But they lend them a golden shimmer
   And promote their flight.
If into life's magical singing
Falls the discordant sound of anxiety,
And love moves the strings to sound, --
It once more rings out sweet and pure!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 titles:
"Dir geb' ich Alles" = "I give you everything"
"Herz und Laute" = "Heart and Lute"


This text was added to the website: 2025-06-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Abschied (Böhmisches Volkslied)  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Der Abschied (Böhmisches Volkslied)", op. 84 no. 3, published 1889 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: J. Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es [scheinen]1 die Sternlein so hell, so hell
Herab von des Himmels Höh';
Zwei Liebende standen hier auf der Schwell',
Ach, Hand in Hand, ade!

Die Blümelein weinten auf Flur und Steg,
Sie fühlten der Beiden Weh';
Die standen so traurig am Scheideweg,
Ade, mein Lieb, ade!

Die Winde durchwehen die Waldesruh',
Im Tale und auf der Höh'!
Da weh'n weiße Tücher einander zu:
Ade, mein Lieb, ade!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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1 Wilm: "schienen"; further changes may exist not noted above.

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. The farewell Bohemian folksong
 (Sung text translation) See original
Language: English 
The stars shone so brightly, so brightly
Down from the heights of heaven;
Two lovers are standing here at the doorstep,
Ah, hand in hand, adieu!

The flowers wept upon lea and path,
They felt the pain of these two;
They stood so sadly at the parting of the ways,
Adieu, my love, adieu!

The winds blow through the peace of the forest,
In the valley and upon the heights!
There, two white kerchiefs are waving to each other:
Adieu, my love, adieu!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 titles:
"Ade, mein Lieb', ade" = "Adieu, my love, adieu"
"Böhmisches Volkslied" = "Bohemian folksong"
"Der Abschied (Böhmisches Volkslied)" = "The farewell (Bohemian folksong)"
"Es scheinen die Sternlein so hell" = "The stars shine so brightly"


This text was added to the website: 2025-06-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 84

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Frühlingsankunft  [sung text not yet checked]
by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Frühlingsankunft", op. 84 no. 4, published 1889 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: J. Rieter-Biedermann
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Blauer Himmel, klare Lüfte,
Seid gegrüßt viel tausend Mal,
Und ihr ersten süßen Düfte,
Und du goldner Sonnenstrahl!
   O wie jauchzt das Herz dir zu,
   Schöner, schöner Frühling du!

Hast auch lange du gesäumet,
Endlich, endlich kommst du doch;
Und was harrend wir geträumet,
Ist erfüllt nur holder noch!
   Alles machst du gut im Nu,
   Schöner, schöner Frühling du!

Grünt, ihr Auen! schmückt, ihr Felder,
Eilig euch zu seinem Preis!
Schäumt, ihr Bäche! rauscht, ihr Wälder!
Singt, ihr Vögel, heller Weis!
   Jauchzt mit uns ihm freudig zu:
   Schöner, schöner Frühling du!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 33.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
4. Spring's arrival
Language: English 
Blue sky, clear breezes,
I greet you a thousand times,
And you first sweet scents,
And you golden sunbeam!
   Oh how my heart rejoices toward you,
   Lovely, lovely springtime, you!

Though you tarried long,
Finally, finally you have come after all;
And everything we dreamed while waiting
Has come to pass even more beautifully than we dreamed!
   In a trice, you make everything good,
   Lovely, lovely springtime, you!

Grow green, you meadows! you fields, adorn
Yourselves swiftly in praise of spring!
Foam, you brooks! sough, you forests!
Sing bright lays, you birds!
   Happily sing spring’s praises with us:
   Lovely, lovely springtime, you!

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.
    Contact: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Frühlingsankunft" = "Spring's arrival"


This text was added to the website: 2017-07-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 102

Translation © by Sharon Krebs