English translations of Vier Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran (oder Bariton) mit Pianoforte , opus 26

by Konstantin Bürgel (1837 - 1909)

1. Am tiefen klaren Brunnen
 (Sung text)
by Konstantin Bürgel (1837 - 1909), "Am tiefen klaren Brunnen", op. 26 (Vier Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran (oder Bariton) mit Pianoforte ) no. 1, published 1875 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Nürnberg, Schmid
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am tiefen klaren Brunnen
Da sitzt ein Mägdelein,
Es fallen ihre Thränen
Wohl in den Brunnen hinein.

So wie das Wasser im Brunnen,
So rein ist auch ihr Herz,
So tief grad’ wie der Brunnen,
So tief ist auch ihr Schmerz.

Was mag sie nur so weinen?
So jung hat sie schon Gram?
Sie trauert weil ihr Geliebter
Heut eine Andere nahm.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
1. At the deep, clear well
Language: English 
At the deep, clear well
There sits a maiden;
Her tears are falling
Into the depths of the well.

Just like the water in the well,
So pure is her heart also,
And just as deep as the well,
So deep, too, is her pain.

Why should she be weeping so?
At such a young age she already suffers sorrow?
She is mourning because her beloved
Today wed another.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Ach wie tönt dein süsser Schall
 (Sung text)
by Konstantin Bürgel (1837 - 1909), "Ach wie tönt dein süsser Schall", op. 26 (Vier Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran (oder Bariton) mit Pianoforte ) no. 2, published 1875 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Nürnberg, Schmid
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach wie tönt dein süsser Schall
Mir in’s Herz o Nachtigall!
Keiner will dich recht verstehn;
Möchtest wol [sic] vor Leid vergehn?
Mir auch ist in warmer Nacht
Banger Liebesschmerz erwacht!
Singe, singe Nachtigall
Deiner Wehmuth lauten Schall!
Auf dem engen Erdenraum
Ist doch alles nur ein Traum.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: the Bürgel score gives the poet as "Dr. W. Viol"

possibly by Friedrich Wilhelm Viol (1817 - 1874)
2. Ah, how your sweet sound penetrates
Language: English 
Ah, how your sweet sound penetrates
My heart, oh nightingale!
No one truly wants to understand you;
You wish to perish of sorrow?
In this warm night for me as well
Anxious pains of love have woken!
Sing, sing, nightingale,
The loud resounding of your melancholy!
In this narrow earthly realm
Everything is only a dream.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-11
Line count: 10
Word count: 56

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der erste Kuss
 (Sung text)
by Konstantin Bürgel (1837 - 1909), "Der erste Kuss", op. 26 (Vier Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran (oder Bariton) mit Pianoforte ) no. 3, published 1875 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Nürnberg, Schmid
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich will Dir singen ein süsses Lied,
Das Lied der ersten Liebe!
Wie schön ist’s, wenn der Maien blüht,
Wenn grünen die jungen Triebe.

Es rauscht und säuselt im Blütenhain,
Es duftet auf allen Gängen.
Der warme Frühlingssonnenschein
Will alle Knospen sprengen.

Im Wald die Vöglein rufen laut
Mit sangeslust’ger Kehle,
Dass jeder ein holdes Liebchen traut
Zum Kosen sich auserwähle.

Du giebst mir den ersten wonnigen Kuss,
Es darf Dich fürwahr nicht schrecken!
Du sollst ja mit Deinem süssen Gruss
Das Lied in der Brust mir wecken!

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: the Bürgel score gives the poet as "Dr. W. Viol"

possibly by Friedrich Wilhelm Viol (1817 - 1874)
3. The first kiss
Language: English 
I wish to sing you a sweet song,
The song of first love!
How lovely it is when the wildflowers bloom,
When the young sprigs become green.

It soughs and rustles in the blossoming grove,
There are lovely scents upon all the pathways,
The warm spring sunshine
Wishes to make all the buds burst forth.

In the forest the birds call loudly
With throats that delight in singing,
That everyone should choose for himself
A lovely sweetheart to cuddle.

You give me the first delightful kiss,
It truly must not startle you!
With your sweet greeting you are
To awaken the song in my breast!

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Unruhe
 (Sung text)
by Konstantin Bürgel (1837 - 1909), "Unruhe", op. 26 (Vier Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran (oder Bariton) mit Pianoforte ) no. 4, published 1875 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Nürnberg, Schmid
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Herz ist voll, mein Haupt ist schwer,
Es treiben Gedanken sich drin umher
Und nirgend find’ ich Ruh’ noch Rast,
Weiss nicht, was so wunderbar mich erfasst.

Mir ist, als ob in der ganzen Welt
Nichts mehr sich traut zu mir gesellt,
Es ist so wüst um mich herum,
Mein Blick ist trübe, mein Mund ist stumm.

Ich sinn’ und sinne hin und her
Wo es am besten für mich noch wär’,
Und bin ich kaum an einem Ort,
Da treibt’s gewaltsam mich wieder fort.

Seit ich in’s Auge Dir geschaut,
Mein volles Herz Dir anvertraut,
Da ist es ganz um mich gescheh’n,
Ich möchte vor Pein und Lust vergeh’n.

O wüsstest Du mein Herzeleid,
Das Du mir schufst, Du süsse Maid!
Dann gäbe wohl dein Liebesblick
Mir Glück und Ruhe wieder zurück.

So trag’ ich still in meiner Brust
Das schwere Leid, Dir unbewusst;
Ich nehm’ es, meine ganze Hab’
Hinab mit mir in’s tiefe Grab.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: the Bürgel score gives the poet as "Dr. W. Viol"

possibly by Friedrich Wilhelm Viol (1817 - 1874)
4. Unrest
Language: English 
My heart is full, my head is heavy,
Thoughts chase each other around within it,
And nowhere do I find rest or repose,
I know not what has so wondrously taken possession of me.

It seems to me as if in the whole world
Nothing lovingly keeps company with me,
It is so desolate all around me,
My eyes are bleary, my mouth is mute.

I ponder and my thoughts roam here and there
Where it might still be best for me,
And barely am I in one place,
When I am mightily driven away again.

Since I have gazed into your eyes,
Confided my full heart to you,
I am completely undone,
I could perish of sorrow and joy.

Oh, if you knew my heart’s suffering
That you caused me, you sweet maiden!
Then your loving glance would
Give me back joy and peace again.

As it is, I carry silently in my bosom
The heavy pain, unbeknownst to you;
I shall take it as my sole possession
Down with me into the deep grave.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 176

Translation © by Sharon Krebs