English translations of Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus), opus 27

by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)

1. Oben, wo die Sterne glühen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908), "Oben, wo die Sterne glühen", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus)) no. 1, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus ], Leipzig, A.P. Schmidt, also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Oben, wo die Sterne glühen,
Müssen uns die Freuden blühen,
Die uns unten sind versagt; 
In des Todes kalten Armen
Kann das Leben erst erwarmen,
Und das Licht der Nacht enttagt.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
Up above, where the stars are glowing,
Will have to bloom all the joys
That we were refused down here;
Only in the cold arms of Death
Can Life grow warmer,
And the light of Night grow brighter.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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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Note: "enttagt" is a neologism by Heine.



This text was added to the website: 2022-04-25
Line count: 6
Word count: 38

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. In the starry sky above us
by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908), "In the starry sky above us", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus)) no. 1, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus ], also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
In the starry sky above us
 . . . . . . . . . .

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by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)
3. Schweizerlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908), "Schweizerlied", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus)) no. 2, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus ], Leipzig, A.P. Schmidt, also set in English
Language: Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) 
[Uf'm]1 Bergli
Bin i [gesässe]2,
Ha de Vögle
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gesunge,
Hänt gesprunge,
Hänts Nästli
Gebaut.

In ä Garte
Bin i [gestande]3,
Ha de Imbli
Zugeschaut;
Hänt gebrummet,
Hänt gesummet,
[Hänt]4 Zelli
Gebaut.

Uf [d' Wiese]5
Bin i gange,
[Lugt'i]6 Summer-
vögle [a]7;
Hänt gesoge,
Hänt gefloge,
Gar [z'schön hänt's]8
Gethan.

Und da kummt nu
[Der Hansel]9,
Und da zeig i
Em froh,
Wie sie's [mache]10,
Und mer [lache]11
Und [mache's]12
Au so.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, pages 169-170; with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, pages 155-156; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Original-Ausgabe. Wien, 1816. Bey Chr. Kaulfuß und C. Armbruster. Stuttgart. In der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. Gedruckt bey Anton Strauß, pages 170-171.

1 Reichardt: "An ä"
2 Schubert: "gsässe"
3 Becker, Franz: "g'stande"; Schubert: "gstande"
4 Becker: "Hänt's"
5 Becker: "de Wiese"; Hiller: "di Wiese"
6 Becker: "Lug di"
7 Franz: "an"
8 Goethe (Wien 1816 edition): "zu schön hänt s'"; Schubert (Neue Gesamtausgabe): "zur schön hänts"; Franz: "zu schön hänt's"
9 Becker: "Au der Liebste"
10 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "machen"
11 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition), Schubert: "lachen"
12 Goethe (1815 and 1816 edition): "machen's"; Schubert: "machens"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. The maiden in the meadow
Language: English 
On the hillside 
I sat,
Watching 
the birds;
They sang, 
they jumped;
They built 
nests.

In the garden 
I stood,
Watching 
the bees;
They hummed, 
they buzzed,
They built their 
hive.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Thomas A. Gregg, (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: 2007-11-07
Line count: 16
Word count: 31

Translation © by Thomas A. Gregg
4. Springtime
by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908), "Springtime", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus)) no. 2, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus ], also set in Swiss German (Schwizerdütsch)
Language: English 
In the springtide
 . . . . . . . . . .

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by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)
5. Der Fischerknabe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908), "Der Fischerknabe", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus)) no. 3, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus ], Leipzig, A.P. Schmidt, also set in English
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es lächelt der See, er ladet zum Bade,
Der Knabe [schlief ein am]1 grünen Gestade,
  Da hört er ein Klingen, 
  Wie Flöten so süß,
  Wie Stimmen der Engel
  Im Paradies.

Und wie er erwachet in seliger Lust,
Da [spielen]2 die Wasser ihm um die Brust,
  Und es ruft aus den Tiefen:
  Lieb' Knabe, bist mein!
  Ich locke den Schläfer, 
  Ich zieh ihn [herein]3.

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1 Marschner: "schlief am"
2 Curschmann: "spülen"
3 Marschner: "hinein"

by Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)
5. The lake smiles, so inviting to bathe
Language: English 
The lake smiles, so inviting to bathe,
the boy slept on the green bank,
then, he hears a tinkling,
as of sweet flutes,
like the voices of angels
in paradise.

And as he awakens in blissful desire,
the waters now play against his breast,
and a call from the depths:
Dear boy, you are mine!
I lure the sleeper,
I draw him down.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by John H. Campbell
6. The fisher‑boy
by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908), "The fisher-boy", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor (Three part-songs for men's chorus)) no. 3, published 1890 [ four-part men's chorus ], also set in German (Deutsch)
Language: English 
The glittering waves
 . . . . . . . . . .

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by Edward Alexander MacDowell (1860 - 1908)