English translations of Lieder, opus 6

by Ernst von Stockhausen

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1. Mondwanderung  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst von Stockhausen , "Mondwanderung", op. 6 (Lieder) no. 1, published 1865 [ soprano and piano ], from 2 Balladen, no. 1
Language: German (Deutsch) 
"Der Förster ging zu Fest und Schmaus!"
Der Wildschütz zieht in den Wald hinaus.

Es schläft sein Weib mit dem Kind allein,
Es scheint der Mond in's Kämmerlein.

Und wie er scheint auf die weiße Wand,
Da faßt das Kind der Mutter Hand.

"Ach, Mutter, wo bleibt der Vater so lang',
Mir wird so weh, mir wird so bang!"

"Kind, sieh nicht in den Mondenschein,
Schließ' deine [Augen und schlafe ein]1."

Der Mondschein zieht die Wand entlang,
Er [scheint wohl auf die]2 Büchse blank.

"Ach Mutter, und hörst den Schuß du nicht?
Das war des Vaters Büchse nicht!"

"Kind, sieh nicht in den Mondenschein,
Das war ein Traum, schlaf ruhig ein."

Der Mond scheint tief in's Kämmerlein
Auf des Vaters Bild mit blassem Schein.

"Herr Jesus Christus im Himmelreich!
O Mutter, der Vater ist todtenbleich!"

Und wie die Mutter vom Schlummer erwacht,
Da haben sie todt ihn [hereingebracht]3.

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1 Marschner : "Augen, schlaf' doch ein"
2 Marschner : "schimmert auf der"
3 Marschner: "heimgebracht"

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
1. A walk in the moonlight
Language: English 
"The forester went off to celebration and feast!"
The poacher heads out into the forest.

His wife sleeps alone with their child,
The moon shines into the bed-chamber.

And as it shines upon the white wall,
The child grasps the mother's hand.

"Ah mother, what is keeping father so long,
I am so concerned, I am so worried!"

"Child, do not look into the moonlight,
Close your eyes, [and] go to sleep."

The moonlight passes along the wall,
It shimmers upon the shiny musket.

"Oh Mother, and did you not hear that shot?
That was not father's musket!"

"Child, do not look into the moonlight,
That was a dream, go peacefully to sleep."

The moonbeams reached far into the chamber
And shone palely upon the father's portrait.

"Lord Jesus Christ in the kingdom of Heaven!
Oh Mother, Father is pale as death!"

And as the mother awoke from her slumbers,
They brought [her husband] home dead.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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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Note: this is a translation of Marschner's version.


This text was added to the website: 2010-11-22
Line count: 22
Word count: 156

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Es war ein alter König  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst von Stockhausen , "Es war ein alter König", op. 6 (Lieder) no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war ein alter König,
sein Herz war schwer, sein [Haupt]1 war grau;
der arme alte König,
er nahm eine junge Frau.

Es war ein [schöner]2 Page,
blond war sein [Haupt]3, leicht war sein Sinn;
er trug die [seid'ne]4 Schleppe
der jungen Königin.

Kennst du das alte Liedchen?
Es klingt so süß, es klingt so trüb!
Sie mußten beide sterben,
sie hatten sich viel zu lieb.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von H. Heine, Zweite Auflage, Hamburg, bei Hoffmann und Campe, 1844, page 28.

1 Diepenbrock: "Haar"
2 Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Zemlinsky: "junger"
3 Wolfrum: "Haar"
4 Goldschmidt: "seidene"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. There was an old king
Language: English 
 There was an old king,
 his heart was heavy, his head was gray;
 the poor, old king,
 he took a young wife.
 
 There was a handsome pageboy,
 blond was his hair, light was his manner;
 he carried the silk train
 of the young queen.
 
 Do you know this old song?
 It sounds so sweet, it sounds so troubled!
 They both had to die,
 for they loved each other too much.

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: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Es war ein alter König   [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst von Stockhausen , "Es war ein alter König ", op. 6 (Lieder) no. 2, published 1865 [ bass and piano ], from 2 Balladen, no. 2
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war ein alter König,
sein Herz war schwer, sein [Haupt]1 war grau;
der arme alte König,
er nahm eine junge Frau.

Es war ein [schöner]2 Page,
blond war sein [Haupt]3, leicht war sein Sinn;
er trug die [seid'ne]4 Schleppe
der jungen Königin.

Kennst du das alte Liedchen?
Es klingt so süß, es klingt so trüb!
Sie mußten beide sterben,
sie hatten sich viel zu lieb.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von H. Heine, Zweite Auflage, Hamburg, bei Hoffmann und Campe, 1844, page 28.

1 Diepenbrock: "Haar"
2 Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Zemlinsky: "junger"
3 Wolfrum: "Haar"
4 Goldschmidt: "seidene"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. There was an old king
Language: English 
 There was an old king,
 his heart was heavy, his head was gray;
 the poor, old king,
 he took a young wife.
 
 There was a handsome pageboy,
 blond was his hair, light was his manner;
 he carried the silk train
 of the young queen.
 
 Do you know this old song?
 It sounds so sweet, it sounds so troubled!
 They both had to die,
 for they loved each other too much.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


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

Translation © by Emily Ezust