English translations of Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass, opus 34

by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882)

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1. Mailied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Mailied", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 1, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wie herrlich leuchtet
Mir die Natur!
Wie glänzt die Sonne!
Wie lacht die Flur!

  Es dringen [Blühten]1
Aus jedem Zweig
Und tausend Stimmen
Aus dem Gesträuch,

  Und Freud und Wonne
Aus jeder Brust.
O Erd', o Sonne!
O Glück, o Lust!

  O [Lieb']2, o Liebe! 
So golden schön,
Wie Morgenwolken
Auf jenen Höhn!

  Du segnest herrlich
Das frische Feld,
Im Blütendampfe
Die [volle]3 Welt.

  O [Mädchen, Mädchen]4, 
Wie lieb ich dich!
Wie [blickt]5 dein Auge,
Wie liebst du mich!

  So liebt die Lerche
Gesang und Luft,
Und Morgenblumen
Den Himmelsduft.

  Wie ich dich liebe
Mit [warmem]6 Blut,
Die du mir Jugend
Und [Freud]7 und Mut

  [Zu]8 neuen Liedern
Und Tänzen gibst.
Sey ewig glücklich,
Wie du mich liebst!

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Confirmed with Goethe's Gedichte, Erster Theil, Neue Auflage, Stuttgart und Tübingen: in der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1829, pages 46-47.

See also this placeholder for songs with the title "Mailied" that might or might not refer to this poem.

1 Bartók: "die Blüthen"
2 Lorenz: "Liebe"
3 Zilcher: "weite"
4 Zilcher: "Liebster, Liebster"
5 Lorenz: "glänzt"; Bartók, Mendelssohn-Hensel, Pfitzner: "blinkt"
6 Bartók: "warmen" (a grammatical error)
7 Bartók: "Freund" (an error)
8 Gabler: "in"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. How marvellously does Nature shine for me!
Language: English 
How marvellously 
does Nature shine for me!
How the sun gleams!
How the meadow laughs!

Blossoms burst forth 
From every branch
And a thousand voices
From the bushes!

And joy and bliss 
From every breast;
O Earth, o Sun, 
o Happiness, o Joy!

O love, o darling!
So golden fair,
As morning clouds
On yonder heights!

You bless marvellously
The fresh field,
In a mist of blossoms, 
The full world.

O maiden, maiden,
How I love you!
O how you gaze at me,
O how you love me!

The lark loves
Song and Breeze,
And morning flowers,
The dew of heaven,

As I love you 
With blood on fire,
You who give me youth
And joy and cheer

For new songs 
And new dances.
Be forever happy
In loving me so!

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: 36
Word count: 131

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Abendlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Abendlied", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 2, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist [so]1 still geworden,
Verrauscht des Abends Wehn,
Nun hört man aller Orten
Der [Engel]2 Füße gehn,
Rings in die [Thale]3 senket
Sich Finsterniß mit Macht --
Wirf ab, Herz, was dich kränket
Und was dir bange macht!

Es ruht die Welt [im]4 Schweigen, 
Ihr Tosen ist vorbei,
Stumm ihrer Freude Reigen
Und stumm ihr Schmerzenschrei.
Hat Rosen sie geschenket,
Hat Dornen sie gebracht --
Wirf ab, Herz, was dich kränket
Und was dir bange macht! 

Und hast du heut gefehlet, 
O [schaue nicht]5 zurück;
Empfinde dich beseelet 
Von freier Gnade Glück.
Auch des Verirrten denket 
Der Hirt auf hoher Wacht --
Wirf ab, Herz, was dich kranket 
Und was dir bange macht! 

Nun stehn im Himmelskreise
Die Stern' in Majestät;
In gleichem festem Gleise
Der goldne Wagen geht.
Und gleich den [Sternen]6 lenket
Er deinen Weg durch Nacht --
Wirf ab, Herz, was dich kränket,
Und was dir bange macht!

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Confirmed wtih Gedichte von Gottfried Kinkel, Erster Band, Siebente Auflage, Stuttgart, Verlag der J. F. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1872, pages 191-192.

1 Blumner: "nun" (Musikalien-catalog von Heinrichshofen's Verlag in Magdeburg); further changes may exist not shown above
2 Taubert: "Eng'lein"
3 Ohlsen: "Thäler"; Schumann: "Tiefe"
4 Ohlsen: "in"
5 Taubert: "schau' nicht trüb"
6 Ohlsen: "Stürmen" (the score is almost certainly erroneous)

by (Johann) Gottfried Kinkel (1815 - 1882)
2. Evening song
Language: English 
It has [become so]1 quiet.
The evening breeze has rustled itself out.
Now one hears everywhere
The footsteps of the angels.
All around darkness sinks
Powerfully into the [valleys]2;
Cast off, heart, what grieves you
And what makes you anxious!
 
The world rests in silence,
Its turbulence is past,
Its roundelay of joy is mute,
And mute its cry of pain;
Whether it provided roses,
Whether it brought thorns,
Cast off, heart, what grieves you
And what makes you anxious!
 
And if today you erred,
Oh do not look back;
Feel yourself animated
By the good fortune of free grace.
The shepherd upon his watch on high
Thinks also of the lost one--
Cast off, heart, what grieves you
And what makes you anxious!
 
Now all about the heavens
The stars stand in majesty.
Along the old, firm pathway
The golden carriage [the moon] is travelling.
And like the stars, it directs
Your way through the night.
Cast off, heart, what grieves you
And what makes you anxious!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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:
"Ein geistlich Abendlied" = "A sacred evening song"
"Ein geistliches Abendlied" = "A sacred evening song"
"Abendlied" = "Evening song"
"Geistliches Abendlied" = "Sacred evening song"

1 Blumner: "now become" (Musikalien-catalog von Heinrichshofen's Verlag in Magdeburg); further changes may exist not shown above. 2 Schumann: "depths"

This text was added to the website: 2008-09-03
Line count: 32
Word count: 170

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Schweizerlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Schweizerlied", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 3, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner
Language: Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) 
[Uf'm]1 Bergli
Bin i [gesässe]2,
Ha de Vögle
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gesunge,
Hänt gesprunge,
Hänts Nästli
Gebaut.

In ä Garte
Bin i [gestande]3,
Ha de Imbli
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gebrummet,
Hänt gesummet,
[Hänt]4 Zelli
Gebaut.

Uf [d' Wiese]5
Bin i gange,
[Lugt'i]6 Summer-
vögle a;
Hänt gesoge,
Hänt gefloge,
Gar [z'schön hänt's]7
Gethan.

Und da kummt nu
[Der Hansel]8,
Und da zeig i
Em froh,
Wie sie's [mache]9,
Und mer [lache]10
Und [mache's]11
Au so.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, pages 169-170; with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, pages 155-156; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Original-Ausgabe. Wien, 1816. Bey Chr. Kaulfuß und C. Armbruster. Stuttgart. In der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. Gedruckt bey Anton Strauß, pages 170-171.

1 Reichardt: "An ä"
2 Schubert: "gsässe"
3 Becker: "g'stande"; Schubert: "gstande"
4 Becker: "Hänt's"
5 Becker: "de Wiese"; Hiller: "di Wiese"
6 Becker: "Lug di"
7 Goethe (Wien 1816 edition): "zu schön hänt s'"; Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "zur schön hänts"
8 Becker: "Au der Liebste"
9 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "machen"
10 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "lachen"
11 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition): "machen's"; Schubert: "machens"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. The maiden in the meadow
Language: English 
On the hillside 
I sat,
Watching 
the birds;
They sang, 
they jumped;
They built 
nests.

In the garden 
I stood,
Watching 
the bees;
They hummed, 
they buzzed,
They built their 
hive.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Thomas A. Gregg, (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: 2007-11-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 31

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
4. Mein Herz ist schwer  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Mein Herz ist schwer", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 4, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Herz ist schwer, Gott sei's geklagt,
Mein Herz ist schwer für Einen.
O Gott, eine lange Winternacht
Könnt' wachen ich für Einen!
O Leid, für Einen!
O Freud', für Einen!
Die ganze Welt könnt' ich durchziehn für Einen!

Ihr Mächte, reiner Liebe hold,
O lächelt mild auf Einen!
Schützt vor Gefahr ihn, bringt gesund
Zurück mir meinen Einen!
O Leid, für Einen!
O Freud', für Einen!
Ich tät' - o Gott, was tät' ich nicht für Einen?

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Ferdinand Freiligrath, 7. Aufl., Stuttgart und Tübingen, 1844.


by Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810 - 1876)
4.
Language: English 
My heart is worried, God it laments,
My heart is worried for the One.
O God, through a long winter’s night
I would keep watch for the One!
O sorrow, for the One!
O joy, for the One!
I could withstand the whole earth for the One!

You powers, pure love so kind,
O, smile gently upon the One!
Shield him from danger; Bring, healthy,
My One back to me!
O sorrow, for the One!
O joy, for the One!
I would… O God, what wouldn’t I do for the One?

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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This text was added to the website: 2022-07-12
Line count: 14
Word count: 91

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
5. Der gute Kamerad  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Der gute Kamerad", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 5, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hatt' einen Kameraden,
Einen bessern findst du nit.
Die Trommel schlug zum Streite,
Er ging an meiner Seite
[Im gleichen Schritt und Tritt]1.

Eine Kugel kam geflogen:
Gilt's mir oder gilt es dir?
Ihn hat es weggerissen,
Er [liegt]2 mir vor den Füßen
Als wär's ein Stück von mir.

Will mir die Hand noch reichen,
Derweil ich eben lad'.
Kann dir die Hand nicht geben,
Bleib du im ew'gen Leben
Mein guter Kamerad!

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1 Kreutzer: "In gleichem Tritt und Schritt"
2 Kreutzer: "lag"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
5. The good comrade
Language: English 
 I had a comrade,
 and a better one you could not find.
 They beat on the drums to sound the battle,
 and he went by my side
 step for step at the same pace.
 
 A bullet came flying:
 was it meant for me or you?
 It tore him away
 and he lay at my feet
 as if he were a part of me.
 
 He wanted still to reach me his hand,
 but I had to load my musket just then.
 I cannot give you my hand -
 may you rest in eternal peace,
 my good comrade!

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: 15
Word count: 96

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Frohe Lieder will ich singen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl Lührss (1824 - 1882), "Frohe Lieder will ich singen", op. 34 (Sechs Chorlieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 6, published 1862 [ SATB chorus ], Leipzig, Kitzner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Frohe Lieder will ich singen
Und vergessen [allen]1 Schmerz,
Und ich will mich fröhlich schwingen
Mit der Lerche himmelwärts.

Denn der Frühling hat [mir]2 wieder
Aufgethan [sein]3 [reiches]4 Herz,
Und so steigen meine Lieder
Mit [der Lerche]5 himmelwärts.

Und es lauschen rings auf Erden
Knosp' und [Blüthe, Stein]6 und Erz:
Sollt' es [dir nur kund nicht werden,
Wie dich liebt mein frohes]7 Herz?

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Hoffmann von Fallersleben, Neunte Auflage, Berlin: G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1887, page 112.

1 Kleffel or Ries: "meinen" (needs to be checked)
2 Randhartinger: "uns"
3 Lachner: "mein"
4 Merxhausen (Decker): "weiches"
5 Lachner: "den Lerchen"
6 Merxhausen (Decker): "Blüth' und Stein"
7 Merxhausen (Decker): "nie denn kund dir werden / Wie dich liebt mein ganzes"

by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
6. I want to sing happy songs
Language: English 
I want to sing happy songs
And to forget all my pain,
And I want to sail joyfully,
With the lark, toward the heavens.

For spring has once again
Opened its abundant heart,
And thus my songs mount
With the lark, toward the heavens.

And listening on the earth, 'round about,
Bud and bloom, stone and ore:
Could you not know
How much my glad heart loves you?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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):
"Frohe Lieder" = "Happy songs"
"Frohe Lieder will ich singen" = "I want to sing happy songs"
"Frühlingslied" = "Song of Spring"



This text was added to the website: 2023-04-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 68

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall