English translations of Drei Gesänge für Alt-Stimme, opus 17

by August Walter (1821 - 1896)

1. Die Himmelsthräne  [sung text not yet checked]
by August Walter (1821 - 1896), "Die Himmelsthräne", op. 17 (Drei Gesänge für Alt-Stimme) no. 1, published 1862 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Himmel hat eine Thräne geweint,
Die hat sich in's Meer [zu verlieren]1 gemeint.
Die Muschel kam und schloß sie ein:
Du sollst nun meine Perle sein.
Du sollst nicht vor den Wogen zagen,
Ich will hindurch dich ruhig tragen.
O du mein Schmerz, du meine Lust,
Du Himmelsthrän' in meiner Brust!
Gieb, Himmel, daß ich in reinem Gemüthe
Den reinsten deiner Tropfen hüte.

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Note: modern German spelling would use "Träne" instead of "Thräne", "Gib" instead of "Gieb", and "Gemüte" instead of "Gemüthe".

Confirmed with Deutsche Lyrik, Selected and Arranged with Notes and a Literary Introduction by C.A. Buchheim, London: MacMillan & Co., 1875, page 165.

1 Schumann: "verlieren"

by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
1.
Language: English 
Heaven has shed a tear
That thought to lose itself in the sea.
The seashell came and enclosed it:
You shall now be my pearl.
You shall not fear the waves,
I shall calmly carry you through them.
Oh you my pain, you my joy,
You tear of Heaven in my breast!
Grant, Heaven, that, with a pure spirit,
I may cherish the purest of Thy droplets.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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):
"Der Himmel" = "Heaven"
"Der Himmel hat eine Thräne geweint " = "Heaven has shed a tear"
"Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint" = "Heaven has shed a tear"
"Die Himmelsthräne" = "The tear of Heaven"
"Die Himmelsträne " = "The tear of Heaven"
"Die Perle" = "The pearl"
"Lied" = "Song"



This text was added to the website: 2020-10-12
Line count: 10
Word count: 67

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Das Ständchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by August Walter (1821 - 1896), "Das Ständchen", op. 17 (Drei Gesänge für Alt-Stimme) no. 2, published 1862 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was wecken aus dem Schlummer mich
Für süße Klänge doch?
O Mutter, sieh! wer mag es sein,
[In]1 später Stunde noch?

"Ich [höre nichts, ich sehe]2 nichts,
O schlummre fort so lind!
Man bringt dir keine Ständchen [jetzt]3,
Du armes, krankes Kind!"

[Es ist nicht irdische Musik,
Was]4 mich so freudig macht;
Mich rufen Engel mit Gesang,
O Mutter, gute Nacht!

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Confirmed with Uhlands Werke, Erster Teil, Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year], page 141.

1 Randhartinger (song with string quartet): "In so"
2 Hensel: "sehe nichts, ich höre"; Randhartinger (song with string quartet): "höre nichts, ich höre"
3 Lang: "mehr"
4 Mendel: "Nicht irdische Musik ist es/ Das"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. The serenade
Language: English 
What sweet sounds awaken me
From my slumbers?
Oh mother, go see! Who might it be
At such a late hour yet?

"I don't hear anything, I don't see anything,
Oh, keep on slumbering so gently!
No one is coming to serenade you [now]1,
You poor sick child!"

It is not earthly music
That fills me with such joy.
The angels are calling me with song;
Oh mother, good night!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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:
"Das Ständchen" = "The serenade"
"Ständchen" = "Serenade"
"Was wecken aus dem Schlummer mich" = "What awakens me from slumber"

1 Lang: "anymore"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 72

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Dein Wille, Herr!   [sung text not yet checked]
by August Walter (1821 - 1896), "Dein Wille, Herr! ", op. 17 (Drei Gesänge für Alt-Stimme) no. 3, published 1862 [ alto and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dein Wille, Herr, geschehe!
Verdunkelt schweigt das Land,
Im Zug der Wetter sehe
ich schauernd deine Hand.
O mit uns Sündern gehe
erbarmend ins Gericht!
Ich beug' im tiefsten Wehe
zum Staub mein Angesicht.
Dein Wille, Herr, geschehe!

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Submission
Language: English 
Your will, Lord, be done!
Darken, quiet the land,
In the march of the storm,
Shuddering, I see your hand.
O, treat us sinners
With compassion in your judgment!
I bow in humblest grief,
With my face to the dust.
Your will, Lord, be done!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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: 2011-03-02
Line count: 9
Word count: 45

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall