English translations of Drei Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte und Violoncello, opus 4

by Marie Charlotte Henriette von Kehler (1822 - 1882)

1. Die stille Wasserrose  [sung text not yet checked]
by Marie Charlotte Henriette von Kehler (1822 - 1882), "Die stille Wasserrose", op. 4 (Drei Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte und Violoncello) no. 2, published 1890 [ medium voice, piano, cello ], Frankfurt a/M., Steyl & Thomas
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Die stille Wasserrose]1
Steigt aus dem blauen See,
[Die Blätter flimmern und blitzen]2,
Der Kelch ist weiß wie Schnee.

Da gießt der Mond vom Himmel
All' seinen gold'nen Schein,
Gießt alle seine Strahlen
In ihren Schooß hinein.

Im Wasser um die Blume
Kreiset ein weißer Schwan,
Er [singt]3 so süß, so leise
Und schaut die Blume an.

Er singt so süß, so leise
Und will im Singen vergehn --
O Blume, weiße Blume,
Kannst du das Lied verstehn?

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Gedichte, Vierte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1845, page 63.

1 C. Schumann: "Die stille Lotusblume" or "Die stille Lotosblume"
2 Lachner, Wegener-Koopman: "Die feuchten Blätter zittern"
3 Kücken: "singet"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. The quiet lotus-blossom/water-rose
Language: English 
The quiet lotus blossom
sprouts from the pond so blue,
its leaves all glimmer and sparkle,
its bud is white as snow.

The moon pours down from heaven
all of its golden shine,
pours all its golden moonbeams
into her blossom heart.

In water 'round the blossom
circles the whitest swan
it sings so sweet, so softly
and gazes on the bloom.

It sings so sweet, so softly
and would but perish in song.
O blossom, whitest blossom,
can you conceive the song?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
2. Die Liebe sass als Nachtigall  [sung text not yet checked]
by Marie Charlotte Henriette von Kehler (1822 - 1882), "Die Liebe sass als Nachtigall", op. 4 (Drei Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte und Violoncello) no. 3, published 1890 [ medium voice, piano, cello ], Frankfurt a/M., Steyl & Thomas
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Liebe saß als Nachtigall
Im Rosenbusch und sang,
Es flog der wundersüße Schall
Den grünen Wald entlang.

Und wie er klang, da stieg im Kreis
Aus tausend Kelchen Duft,
Und alle Wipfel rauschten leis',
Und [leise]1 ging die Luft;

Die Bäche schwiegen, die noch kaum
Geplätschert von den Höh'n,
Die Rehlein standen wie im Traum
Und lauschten dem Getön.

Und hell und immer heller floß
Der Sonne Glanz herein,
Um Blumen, Wald und Schlucht ergoß
Sich [goldig rother]2 Schein.

Ich aber zog den Weg entlang
Und hörte auch den Schall --
Ach, was seit jener Stund' ich sang,
War nur sein Wiederhall.

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Confirmed with Emanuel Geibel, Gedichte, Vierte Auflage, Berlin: Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1845, page 72.

1 C. Schumann: "leiser"
2 Backer-Grøndahl: "goldigrother"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2.
Language: English 
Now Love once like a nightingale
in rosebush perched and sang;
with sweetest wonder flew the sound
along the woodland green.

And as it rang, there rose a scent
from ring of thousand buds,
and all the treetops rustled soft,
and softer blew the air;

The brooklets silenced, scarcely come
by splashing from the heights,
the fawns stood still as if in dream
and listened to the tone.

And bright and ever brighter flowed
the sunbeams down inside,
'round blossoms, wood and gorge it gushed
with golden red sunshine.

I walked along the path that day
and also heard that sound.
Alas! what ever since I've sung
was just its echo faint.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    David Kenneth Smith.  Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu


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Title "Waldesgesang" = "Forest song"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 112

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
3. Herab von den Bergen zum Thale  [sung text not yet checked]
by Marie Charlotte Henriette von Kehler (1822 - 1882), "Herab von den Bergen zum Thale", op. 4 (Drei Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte und Violoncello) no. 4, published 1890 [ medium voice, piano, cello ], Frankfurt a/M., Steyl & Thomas
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Herab von den Bergen zum Tale,
Vom Tal zu den Höhen hinan,
So zieh' ich [wohl tausendmale]1,
Der Frühling zieht mir voran.

Der Strom im Morgenrote
Lockt blinkend das Ufer entlang;
Der Mond, [der]2 Friedensbote,
Geht mit mir am Himmel den Gang.

Und alle die Vögel, die singen
Im Walde so wundervoll
Von tausend herrlichen Dingen,
Die ich noch finden soll.

Sie singen: Wohl weit in [der]3 Ferne
Da rauschet ein waldiger Grund,
Drin glänzen zwei selige Sterne,
Drin blüht ein vielrosiger Mund.

Die Sterne, die sollen dich grüßen
So fromm, wie sie keinem getan,
[Den Mund, den Mund sollst du]4 küssen,
Du glücklicher Wandersmann!

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1 Kalliwoda: "vieltausendmale"
2 Kalliwoda: "als"
3 Kalliwoda: "die"
4 Kalliwoda: "Der Mund, der Mund soll dich"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. From the mountains down into the valley
Language: English 
From the mountains down into the valley,
From the valley to the heights again,
I have done this a thousand times,
Springtime leading me forward.

The stream in the red of morning
Sparkles along the curl of the bank;
The moon, herald of peace,
Travels along with me in the sky.

And all the birds, they sing
So wonderfully in the forest
Of a thousand marvelous things
That I have yet to discover.

They sing: Far ahead in the distance
Rustles a wooded dale;
Two sacred stars twinkle within,
A mouth of many roses blooms within.

The stars, they will greet you
As reverently as they have ever done,
The mouth, the mouth you will kiss,
You privileged explorer!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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Translations of title(s):
"Auf der Wanderung" = "On a hike"
"Der glückliche Wandersmann" = "The happy explorer"
"Glücklicher Wandersmann" = "Happy Explorer"
"Herab von den Bergen" = "Down from the Mountains"
"Herab von den Bergen zum Thale" = "From the mountains down into the valley"
"Was ich noch finden soll" = "What I have yet to discover"



This text was added to the website: 2023-10-10
Line count: 20
Word count: 119

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall