English translations of Drei Gesänge für Bariton mit Pianoforte, opus 10

by Agathon Billeter (1834 - 1881)

1. Die schwarzbraunen Augen
 (Sung text)
by Agathon Billeter (1834 - 1881), "Die schwarzbraunen Augen", op. 10 (Drei Gesänge für Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1864 [ baritone and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit deinen schwarzbraunen Augen
Hast du mir das Herze bewegt;
Ich weiß nicht, ist's Wehmuth, ist's Freude,
Was drinnen süßleise sich regt!

Für deine schwarzbraunen Augen
Gäb' Mancher die Güter wohl sein!
Doch läßt sich die Liebe nicht kaufen
Um Gold und Edelgestein!

Und deine schwarzbraunen Augen
Durchglühen gar wonnevoll mich,
Daß ewig im Liede ich werbe
Um dich, du Schöne, um dich!

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by Friedrich Konrad Müller von der Werra (1823 - 1881)
1. The black-brown eyes
Language: English 
With your black-brown eyes
You have touched my heart;
I know not if it be melancholy, if it be joy
That moves therein so sweet-softly!
 
For your black-brown eyes
Many a man would give all his goods!
But love does not let itself be bought
With gold and precious jewels!
 
And your black-brown eyes
Pierce me so glowingly, blissfully,
That eternally I woo in song
You, you beautiful one, you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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: 2015-04-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Gondolier
 (Sung text)
by Agathon Billeter (1834 - 1881), "Der Gondolier", op. 10 (Drei Gesänge für Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1864 [ baritone and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Komm', Lieb! mit in die Gondel,
   Das weite Meer ist still,
   Und denk' was ich dir singen
   Dann Wunderbares will?
      Vom blut'gen Tanz,
      Vom Heldenglanz?
      O nein, o nein!
   Von süßerm Klange muß es sein!
 
Komm', Lieb! der Abend dämmert,
   Die Sterne grüßen traut!
   Und denk' was ich wohl singen
   Will zu der Zither laut?
      Vom Freiheitsbrand?
      Vom Vaterland?
      O nein, o nein!
   Von süßerm Klange muß es sein!
 
Komm', Lieb! mich treibt ein Sehnen
   Mit dir ins Meer hinaus,
   Und denk' was ich dir singen
   Beim Mondschein will da draus?
      Vom Sternenzelt
      Der Mährchenwelt?
      O nein, o nein!
   Von süßerm Klange muß es sein!
 
Komm', Lieb! mein Herz verlanget
   Nach dir voll stiller Glut!
   Und denk' was ich dir singen
   Will dort auf weiter Flut?
      Vom Carneval?
      Und Jubelschall?
      O nein, o nein!
   Von Lieb' und Treue soll es sein!

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2. The Gondolier
Language: English 
Come, Love! along with me in the gondola,
   The expansive sea is quiet,
   And think what wondrous music
   I shall then sing you?
      Of the dance of blood,
      Of the splendour of heroes?
      Oh no, oh no!
   It must have a sweeter sound than that!
 
Come, Love! twilight is falling,
   The stars are greeting us lovingly!
   And what do you think I wish to sing
   Loudly to the [accompaniment of the] zither?
      Of the fires of freedom?
      Of the homeland?
      Oh no, oh no!
   It must have a sweeter sound than that!
 
Come, Love! I am driven by a longing
   To be out on the sea with you,
   And what do you think I wish to sing you
   Our there in the moonlight?
      Of the starry firmament
      Of the fairy-tale world?
      Oh no, oh no!
   It must have a sweeter sound than that!
 
Come, Love! my heart yearns
  For you with quiet burning!
  And what do you think I wish to sing to you
  There upon the expanse of water?
      Of the carnival?
      Of the sounds of rejoicing?
      Oh no, oh no!
   It must be [a song] of love and faithfulness!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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: 2015-04-28
Line count: 32
Word count: 191

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Am Morgen!
 (Sung text)
by Agathon Billeter (1834 - 1881), "Am Morgen!", op. 10 (Drei Gesänge für Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1864 [ baritone and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Habe gestern Nachts im Dunkeln
  In die Augen dir geschaut,
  Sah zwei Sterne drinnen funkeln,
  Denen ich mein Glück vertraut!
  Um mich her ein leises Wehen,
  Als ob es im Lenze früht,
  Und ich mußt' mir still gestehen,
  Daß mir eine Rose blüht!
 
Und ich habe dann geträumet
  Wunderlieblich dies und das,
  Wie der Liebe Becher schäumet
  Wie so klinget Glas an Glas!
  Und ich fühlte, daß es lenzet
  Wieder neu mir im Gemüth,
  Sah beim Wein, der mir kredenzet,
  Daß mir eine Rose blüht!
 
Wie beim Sang der Frühlingschöre
  Bin ich heitern Sinns erwacht,
  Hab', ob ich mich wohl bethöre,
  Froh des süßen Traums gedacht;
  Und ich hab' es tief empfunden,
  Wie das Herz so liebend glüht,
  Denkend in den Morgenstunden,
  Daß mir eine Rose blüht!
 
Und es treibt in meinem Innern
  Etwas mir die Brust so weit,
  Welch' ein liebliches Erinnern
  giebt mir diese Seligkeit!
  Ueber Nacht ist mir's gekommen,
  Daß es Lieder in mir sprüht,
  Denn ich hab' es still vernommen,
  Daß mir eine Rose blüht!

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Confirmed with: Das Buch der Lieder von Müller von der Werra, Leipzig: Ludwig Denicke, 1866, pages 210-211.

by Friedrich Konrad Müller von der Werra (1823 - 1881)
3. In the morning
Language: English 
Last night in the dark
  I gazed into your eyes,
  I saw two stars sparkling therein,
  To which I entrusted my happiness!
  About me there was a quiet wafting,
  As if it were a morning in spring,
  And quietly I had to admit to myself
  That a rose is blooming for me!
 
And then I dreamed
  Wondrously beautifully about this and that,
  How the goblet of love foams,
  How glass clinks against glass!
  And I felt that springtime was coming
  Once again newly in my spirit,
  While I drank the wine that had been proffered me, I saw
  That a rose is blooming for me!
 
As to the singing of spring choruses
  I awoke with a joyful spirit;
  Though I might well be deluding myself,
  I happily thought of the sweet dream;
  And I felt it deep within me,
  How my heart was glowing so lovingly,
  Thinking in the morning hours
  That a rose is blooming for me!
 
And something within me is
  Making my heart expand,
  What a lovely remembering
  This bliss [brings]1 me!
  Overnight I have come to realize
  That poems are bubbling up within me,
  For I have softly heard [the tidings]
  That a rose is blooming for me!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Billeter: "gives"


This text was added to the website: 2015-04-28
Line count: 32
Word count: 202

Translation © by Sharon Krebs