English translations of Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, opus 8

by Emil Hess

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1. Versunken  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emil Hess , "Versunken", op. 8 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Versunken bin ich [ganz]1 darinnen,
In dieser stillen Winterwelt,
Bis in mein Schaffen und mein Sinnen
Mit einmal dein Gedenken fällt!

Ich horche auf! -- Was ist erklungen?
Ich fühl's, wie meine Wangen glüh'n;
Mir träumt: ein Vogel hätt' gesungen
Und alle Welt wär' wieder grün.

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Confirmed with Karl Stieler, Gesammelte Werke, Zweiter Band, Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1908, pages 359-360.

1 Stradal: "tief"; further changes may exist not noted.

by Karl Stieler (1842 - 1885)
1. Immersed
Language: English 
I am [utterly]1 immersed
In this silent winter world,
Until into my labour and my thoughts
Suddenly falls the memory of you!

I harken! -- What has sounded?
I feel how my cheeks glow;
I dream: a bird has sung
And the world is green again.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 title(s):
"Versunken" = "Immersed"
"Versunken bin ich ganz darinnen" = "I am utterly immersed"

1 Stradal: "profoundly"; further changes may exist not noted.


This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Sturmwind  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emil Hess , "Sturmwind", op. 8 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus der Wüste, wo er schlief, 
Sturmwind kam gezogen,
Männer und Rosse begrub er tief 
Unter des Sandes Wogen.
Weiter flog er zum grauen Meer
Ohne Ruhen und Rasten, 
Schiffe jagte er vor sich her
Mit zerknickten Masten.

Sturmwind kam in's Alpenland,
Kam mit Adlerschnelle,
Und von eisbedeckter Wand
Stürzte er rollende Bälle. 
Heulend kam er angebraust,
Fiel in den Wald, den dichten, 
Krachend unter seiner Faust 
Sanken die Eichen und Fichten.

In die Reichsstadt kam der Sturm 
Rüttelnd an Thür und Riegel, 
Brach die Fahne vom Kirchenthurm, 
Warf von den Dächern die Ziegel,
Zauste die Mäntel im Übermuth
Männern, Weibern und Knaben, 
Und des Bürgermeisters Hut
Wehte er in den Graben. 

Weiter brauste der wilde Wind,
Kam an einen Garten,
Drinnen ging ein stilles Kind,
Knospender Blüthen zu warten.
Als der Wind zur Holden kam, 
Thät er fein sie grüssen,
Und der Wüstenleu lag zahm
Vor zwei niedlichen Füssen.

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Confirmed with Spielmannslieder von Rudolf Baumbach, Leipzig, Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1893, pages 73-74.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
2. Tempest
Language: English 
From out of the desert where he slept,
The tempest came a-storming,
Men and horses he buried deeply
Under the waves of sand.
Onward he flew to the grey sea
Without rest or repose,
He drove the ships before him,
Ships with snapped masts.

The tempest came into the alpine land,
Came with the speed of an eagle,
And from the ice-covered cliffs
He dashed rolling balls.
Howling he came a-storming,
Fell upon the forest, the dense forest,
Cracking under his fist
The oaks and firs fell.

Into the city of the realm the tempest came
Rattling at doors and transoms,
He broke the flag from the church tower,
Threw the slates from the rooftops,
In high spirits he ruffled the coats
Of men, women, and lads.
And the mayor’s hat
He blew into the ditch.

Onward stormed the wild wind,
Came to a garden,
Within it a silent maiden walked
Looking after her bursting blossoms.
When the wind came to the lovely one,
He greeted her quite prettily,
And the desert-lion lay down tamely
Before two sweet little feet.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 2022-06-14
Line count: 32
Word count: 180

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. An die Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emil Hess , "An die Nacht", op. 8 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 3, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Beginne]1 deine heilge Feier,
erleuchte dich mit Sternenpracht,
o hülle mich in deine Schleier,
du linde Nacht!

Das wilde Herz, das ziellos irrte,
geleite du zur selgen Ruh',
und was der laute Tag verwirrte,
beschwichtge du!

O mindre du der Sehnsucht Fülle,
o lindre du der Sehnsucht Pein,
o führ' in meines Busens Stille
den Himmel ein!

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Confirmed with Wolffs Poetischer Hausschatz des Deutschen Volkes, völlig erneut durch Dr. Heinrich Fränkel, Einunddreißigste Auflage, Leipzig: Otto Wigand Verlagsbuchhandlung und Buchdruckerei m.b.H., [1907], page 874.

1 Dietrich: "Beginn'"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Michael Bernays (1834 - 1897)
3. To the night
Language: English 
Begin your holy celebration,
illuminate yourself with the splendour of the stars,
oh, envelop me in your veils,
you gentle night! 

My wild heart, that strayed about aimlessly,
may you guide it to blessed peace,
and what the loud day confounded,
may you appease.

Oh diminish the plenitude of yearning,
oh assuage the pain of yearning,
oh bring Heaven into 
the silence of my bosom!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 2022-07-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Und die Rosen die prangen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emil Hess , "Und die Rosen die prangen", op. 8 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und die Rosen die prangen,
  [Darüber hin]1 fährt der Wind,
Und die Lust ist vergangen,
  Fast eh sie beginnt.

Und die Vöglein die singen,
  Und die Luft die verweht's,
Durch die Welt geht ein [Klingen]2,
  Und Keiner versteht's.

Und die Sterne die scheinen
  So [schön in]3 die Nacht,
Ich aber [möcht]4 weinen
  Inmitten der Pracht.

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Confirmed with Wilhelm Osterwald, Gedichte, Halle: Druck und Verlag von Ed. Heynemann, 1848, page 90.

1 Dresel: "D'rüber sie" ; Franz: "D'rüber hin"
2 Dresel: "Kling'n"
3 Franz: "hell durch"
4 Franz: "muss"

by (Karl) Wilhelm Osterwald (1820 - 1887)
4. And the roses which shine
Language: English 
And the roses which shine,
Overhead rides the wind,
And desire is passed,
Almost before it begins.

And the bird which sings,
And the wind which scatters it,
Through the world goes a sound,
And no one understands it.

And the stars which shine
So [beautifully in]1 the night.
I, however, [would like to]2 weep
In the midst of splendor.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Garrett Medlock, (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):
"Einsame Trauer" = "Lonely grief"
"Und die Rosen die prangen" = "And the roses which shine"

1 Franz: "brightly through"
2 Franz: "must"


This text was added to the website: 2018-12-29
Line count: 12
Word count: 62

Translation © by Garrett Medlock
5. Reue  [sung text not yet checked]
by Emil Hess , "Reue", op. 8 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 5, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Nacht war schwarz, die Luft war schwül,
Ich fand nicht Schlaf auf meinem Pfühl,
Mein Sinn ward trüb und trüber: 
Da schritten die Tage der alten Zeit
Zu langem, langem Zug gereiht
Wehklagend mir vorüber: 

"Du hattest den Lenz und du hast ihn entlaubt,
Du hattest das Heil und du hast nicht geglaubt,
Du hattest ein Herz zum Lieben, 
Du hast es vertändelt mit eitlem Schein;
Nun bist du zuletzt allein, allein,
Mit deinem Jammer geblieben."

"Und wie du ringst in bangem Gebet,
Es ist zu spät, es ist zu spät, 
Du darfst von Rast [nicht]1 wissen:
Dein einsam Herz ist dein Gericht." --
Ich aber drückte mein Angesicht
Lautweinend in die Kissen.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Vierzehnte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1849, page 144.

1 Lachner: "nichts"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
5. Rue
Language: English 
The night was black, the air was humid,
I could not find sleep upon my pillow,
My spirit became bleary and more bleary:
Thereupon the days of olden times,
Arrayed into a long, long train,
Strode past me wailing in sorrow:

"You had springtime and you tore off its leaves,
You had salvation and you did not believe,
You had a heart for loving,
You frittered it away with vain illusion;
Now at last you remain,
Alone, alone with your misery."

"And as you wrestle in anxious prayer,
It is too late, it is too late,
You may know nothing of rest:
Your lonely heart is your judgement." --
But, weeping loudly, I pressed
My face into my pillows.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 title(s):
"Die Reue" = "Rue"
"Reue" = "Rue"



This text was added to the website: 2022-06-16
Line count: 18
Word count: 118

Translation © by Sharon Krebs