English translations of Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 31

by Willem de Haan (1849 - 1930)

1. Der Frühling wird wach  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willem de Haan (1849 - 1930), "Der Frühling wird wach", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1885 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es steigen die Glöckchen
Aus schmelzendem Eis
Und schütteln die Röckchen,
Halb grün und halb weiss.
Es knarren die Eichen,
Befreit rauscht der Bach,
Die Kälte will weichen,
Der Frühling wird wach!

Die Mutter Sibylle
Tut's Schiebfenster auf
Und schaut durch die Brille
Zum Giebel hinauf.
Zwei Kätzelein schleichen
Verliebt über's Dach,
Die Kälte will weichen,
Der Frühling wird wach!

Was kommt dort getänzelt,
Trägt Söckel am Schuh?
Es trippelt und schwänzelt
Und kichert mir zu.
Verheissendes Zeichen,
Beherzt folg' ich nach,
Die Kälte will weichen,
Der Frühling wird wach!

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, pages 70-71.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
1.
Language: English 
The dear snowdrops
Arise from the melting ice
And shake their little skirts,
Half green and half white.
The oaks are creaking,
Freed, the brook flows,
Coldness wishes to depart,
Spring awakes!

Mother Sibyl
Opens the sliding window
And, through her glasses,
She gazes up toward the gable.
Two little cats who are in love
Creep over the roof,
Coldness wishes to depart,
Spring awakes!

Who comes dancing along there
Wearing decorations on her shoes?
There is a tripping and a wagging
And a giggling at me.
A prophetic sign,
Heartened I follow,
Coldness wishes to depart,
Spring awakes!

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):
"Der Frühling ist wach" = "Spring is awake"
"Der Frühling wird wach" = "Spring awakes"



This text was added to the website: 2022-02-20
Line count: 24
Word count: 99

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Thautropfen und Quell  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willem de Haan (1849 - 1930), "Thautropfen und Quell", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1885 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es glich dem Maienthaue 
Vor Zeiten meine Lieb;
An jeder Blume der Aue
Ein Tropfen haften blieb.
Und kann die Sonne gezogen
Am blauen Himmelsrund,
Der Thau ward aufgesogen
Von ihrem heissen Mund.

Nun gleicht dem Quell mein Minnen,
Der hat der Tropfen viel,
Und seine Wellen rinnen
Zu einem einz'gen Ziel.
Sie rauschen leise Lieder
Der schlanken Weide am Rain,
Sie neigt sich lauschend nieder. --
Ach Lieb, wann wirst du mein?

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 75.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
2. Dewdrop and water-spring
Language: English 
In the past my loving
Was like the dew of May;
A droplet would cling
To every flower in the meadow.
And if the sun came along
The blue dome of heaven,
The dew would be sucked up
By the sun's fervent lips.

Now my loving is like the water-spring
That has many droplets,
And its waves run
Toward only one goal.
They sough quiet songs
To the slender willow at the marge,
It bends down, listening. --
Ah love, when shall you be mine?

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):
"Es glich dem Maienthaue" = "Like the dew of May"
"Thautropfen und Quell" = "Dewdrop and water-spring"



This text was added to the website: 2022-06-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 84

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willem de Haan (1849 - 1930), "Mai", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1885 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit Sturmwind und Regen 
Verschied der April; 
Die Stürme sich legen,
Die Winde sind still.
Ein farbiger Bogen 
Am Himmel erglüht; 
Der Mai kam gezogen, 
Der Hollerbusch blüht.

Im Strauch an der Quelle
Frau Nachtigall singt; 
Ein brauner Geselle 
Sein Mädel umschlingt.
Ihr Blut geht in Wogen, 
Sie küssen sich müd.
Der Mai kam gezogen, 
Der Hollerbusch blüht.

Der Nordwind die Blätter 
Der Waldbäume jagt, 
Im stürmischen Wetter
Sitzt eine und klagt:
Verrathen, betrogen! 
Das uralte Lied -- -- --
Der Mai ist entflogen, 
Der Holler verblüht.

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Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1882, pages 78-79.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
3. May
Language: English 
With storm-winds and rain
April departed;
The storms die down,
The winds are quiet.
A colourful arc
Glows in the sky;
May has arrived,
The hawthorn bush blooms.

In the bush by the water-spring
Madame Nightingale is singing;
A tanned lad
Embraces his maiden.
Their blood surges in waves,
They kiss until they are weary.
May has arrived,
The hawthorn bush blooms.

The northwind chases
The leaves of the forest's trees,
In the stormy weather
There is one who sits and laments:
Betrayed, deceived!
The ancient song -- -- --
May has flown away,
The blooming of the hawthorn has ended.

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 Hollerbusch" = "The hawthorn bush"
"Mai" = "May"
"Mit Sturmwind und Regen" = "With storm-winds and rain"



This text was added to the website: 2020-08-17
Line count: 24
Word count: 98

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Scheiden  [sung text not yet checked]
by Willem de Haan (1849 - 1930), "Scheiden", op. 31 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1885 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Fahr wohl mein Lieb, der Morgen graut, 
Fahr wohl, wir müssen uns trennen.
Das Scheiden ist ein bittres Kraut,
Von heissen Thränen ist's bethaut,
Und seine Blätter brennen.

Es spriessen Blumen ohne Zahl,
Wo Minne und Jugend werben.
Wo zwei in stummer Herzensqual
Beisammen stehen zum letztenmal,
Die Gräser und Blumen sterben.

Schau mich noch einmal lächelnd an,
Das will ich zum [letzten bitten]1.
Du hast mir viel zulieb gethan,
Und treulich wollt' ich zu dir [stahn]2;
Die Welt hat's nicht gelitten.

Dort drüben am Bach [eine]3 Weide steht,
Die Äste neigen sich nieder.
Ein Blatt sich wirbelnd zur Erde dreht, 
Wer weiss, wohin es der Wind verweht,
Zurück kehrt's nimmer wieder.

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Confirmed with Von der Landstrasse. Lieder von Rudolf Baumbach, Leipzig, Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1882, pages 83-84.

1 Flügge: "letzten Mal bitten"
1 Flügge: "stehn" (likely a typo in the score)
1 Flügge: "die"

by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
4. Parting
Language: English 
Farewell, my love, the morning dawns,
Farewell, we must part.
Parting is a bitter herb,
Bedewed by hot tears,
And its leaves burn.

Flowers burgeon without number
There where love and youth woo.
Where two in mute agony of heart
Stand together for the last time,
There the grasses and flowers die.

Look upon me once more with a smile,
That is my last plea,
You did much for my sake,
And I wanted to keep faithfully at your side;
The world would not have it.

Over yonder by the brook a willow stands,
The branches hang down.
One leaf twirls its way toward the ground,
Who knows where the wind shall blow it,
It shall never return.

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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2020-02-05
Line count: 20
Word count: 118

Translation © by Sharon Krebs