English translations of Vier Hesse-Lieder, opus 51

by Julius Gessinger (1899 - 1986)

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1. Sommerwanderung
 (Sung text)
by Julius Gessinger (1899 - 1986), "Sommerwanderung", op. 51 (Vier Hesse-Lieder) no. 1 (1951) [ baritone and piano or string quartet ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Weites, goldenes Ährenmeer 
Wogt im Wind auf reifen Stengeln. 
Hufbeschlag und Sensendengeln 
Klingen fern vom Dorfe her.

Warme, düfteschwere Zeit! 
Zitternd in der Sonne Gluten 
Wiegen sich die goldnen Fluten 
Reif und schon zum Schnitt bereit.

Fremdling, der ich ohne Pfad 
Suchend pilgere auf Erden, 
Wird ich reif befunden werden, 
Wenn auch mir der Schnitter naht?

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by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
1. Summer wandering
Language: English 
The broad, golden sea of wheat ears
Surges in the wind upon ripe stalks.
From the distant village come the sounds of
The shoeing of hooves and the whetting of scythes.
 
Warm, scent-laden time!
Trembling in the blaze of the sun,
The golden floods undulate,
Ripe and already prepared for the harvest.
 
Stranger I, who without a pathway,
Am searching as I make my earthly pilgrimage,
Shall I be found to have achieved ripeness
When the reaper approaches me as well?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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:
"Ähren" = "Ears of wheat"
"Erntegesang" = "Harvest song"
"Sommerwanderung" = "Summer wandering"


This text was added to the website: 2016-10-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 81

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Wanderschaft
 (Sung text)
by Julius Gessinger (1899 - 1986), "Wanderschaft", op. 51 (Vier Hesse-Lieder) no. 2 (1951) [ baritone and piano or string quartet ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Walde blüht der Seidelbast,
Im Graben liegt noch Schnee;
Das du mir heut' geschrieben hast,
Das Brieflein tat mir weh.

Jetzt schneid' ich einen Stab im Holz;
Ich weiß ein ander Land,
Da sind die Jungfern nicht so stolz
Dem Lieben abgewandt.

Im Walde blüht der Seidelbast,
Kein Brieflein tut mir weh,
Und das du mir geschrieben hast,
Schwimmt draußen auf dem See, 
Schwimmt draußen auf dem Bodensee, 
Ja draußen auf dem See.

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
2. Wanderings
Language: English 
The laurel blooms in the forest,
Snow still lies in the [ditch]1;
The letter that you wrote to me today,
[The letter] wounded me.

Now I shall cut a staff in the woods;
I know another land
Where the maidens are not so proudly
Averse to loving.

The laurel blooms in the forest,
No letter wounds me,
And the one you wrote to me,
Floats out there upon the lake,
Floats out there upon Lake Constance,
Yes, out there upon the lake.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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):
"Im Walde blüht der Seidelbast" = "The laurel blooms in the forest"
"Der Seidelbast" = "The laurel"
"Wanderschaft" = "Wanderings"

1 Frommlet: "garden"


This text was added to the website: 2018-01-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 83

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Abendlied
 (Sung text)
by Julius Gessinger (1899 - 1986), "Abendlied", op. 51 (Vier Hesse-Lieder) no. 3 (1951) [ baritone and piano or string quartet ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun der Tag mich müd gemacht,
Soll mein sehnliches Verlangen
Freundlich die gestirnte Nacht
Wie ein müdes Kind empfangen. 

Hände, laßt von allem Tun,
Stirn vergiß du alles Denken,
Alle meine Sinne nun
Wollen sich in Schlummer senken. 

Und die Seele unbewacht
Will in freien Flügen schweben,
Um im Zauberkreis der Nacht
Tief und tausendfach zu leben.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Beim Schlafengehen", written 1911, first published 1911?

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
3. While going to sleep
Language: English 
Now that the day has made me so tired,
my dearest longings shall
be accepted kindly by the starry night
like a weary child.

Hands, cease your activity,
head, forget all of your thoughts;
all my senses now
will sink into slumber.

And my soul, unobserved,
will float about on untrammeled wings
in the enchanted circle of the night,
living a thousandfold more deeply.

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: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Der Blütenzweig
 (Sung text)
by Julius Gessinger (1899 - 1986), "Der Blütenzweig", op. 51 (Vier Hesse-Lieder) no. 4 (1951) [ baritone and piano or string quartet ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Immer hin und wider
Strebt der Blütenzweig im Winde,
Immer auf und nieder
Strebt mein Herz gleich einem Kinde
Zwischen hellen und dunklen Tagen,
Zwischen Wollen und Entsagen.

Bis die Blüten sind verweht
Und der Zweig in Früchten steht,
Bis das Herz, der Kindheit satt,
Seine Ruhe hat
Und bekennt: voll Lust und nicht vergebens
War das unruhvolle Spiel des Lebens.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Der Blütenzweig", written 1913

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
4.
Language: English 
Always [back and forth]1
The blossom-sprig strives in the wind,
Always up and down
My heart strives like a child
Between bright and dark days,
Between desire and renunciation.

Until the blossoms have been scattered by the wind
And the branch stands full of fruit,
Until the heart, satiated with childhood,
Has found its rest
And acknowledges: full of joy and not in vain
Was the tumultuous play of life.

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: 

Based on:

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Translations of title(s):
"Immer hin und wider" = "Always back and forth"
"Der Blütenzweig" = "The sprig of blossoms"

1 G. Wilhelm: "up and down" (as it is in the third line)

This text was added to the website: 2017-10-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Sharon Krebs