English translations of Drei leichte Lieder für gemischte Chor, opus 26

by Agathon Billeter (1834 - 1881)

1. Im Maien  [sung text not yet checked]
by Agathon Billeter (1834 - 1881), "Im Maien", op. 26 (Drei leichte Lieder für gemischte Chor) no. 3 [ four-part mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig: Rob. Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Nun]1 [bricht]2 aus [allen]3 Zweigen
Das [maienfrische Grün]4,
Die ersten Lerchen steigen,
Die [ersten]5 Veilchen blüh'n;
Und golden liegen Tal und Höh'n --
O Welt, du bist so wunderschön
Im Maien!
 
Und [wie]6 die Knospen springen,
Da regt sich's allzumal;
Die [muntren]7 Vögel singen,
Die Quelle rauscht [in's]8 Tal;
Und freudig [schallt]9 das Lustgetön:
O Welt, du bist so wunderschön
Im Maien!
 
[Wie sich die Bäume]10 wiegen
Im lieben Sonnenschein!
Wie hoch die Vögel fliegen,
Ich möchte hinterdrein;
Möcht' jubeln über Tal und Höh'n:
O Welt, du bist so wunderschön,
Im Maien!

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Confirmed with Julius Rodenberg, Lieder, Neue wohlfeile Ausgabe, Hannover: Carl Rümpler, 1862, pages 113-114.

1 Gericke, Schwantzer, Sieber: "Es"; Högg: "Noch"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Högg: "blüht"; further changes may exist not shown above
3 I. Lachner: "vollen"; further changes may exist not noted above.
4 Hiller: "frische Maiengrün"
5 Billeter: "kleinen"
6 Stöckhardt: "wenn"
7 Hiller, Marx: "muntern"; Stöckhardt: "munter'n"
8 Hiller, Stöckhardt: "zu"
9 Marx: "hallt"
10 Stöckhardt: "Und wie die Bäum' sich"

by Julius Rodenberg (1831 - 1914)
1. In May
Language: English 
[Now from all branches bursts forth]1
The [greenery in its May freshness]2,
The first larks rise,
The [first]3 violets bloom;
And valley and heights lie golden --
Oh world, you are so wondrously beautiful,
In May!

And as the buds burst open,
There is a general stirring;
The merry birds sing,
The water-spring rushes [into]4 the valley;
And the joyful noise rings out:
Oh world, you are so wondrously beautiful,
In May!

How the trees sway
In the dear sunshine!
How high the birds fly,
I would like to follow them;
I would like to rejoice above valley and heights:
Oh world, you are so wondrously beautiful,
In May!

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  • 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):
"Im Mai" = "In May"
"Im Maien" = "In May"
"Nun bricht aus allen Zweigen" = "Now from all branches bursts forth"
"O Welt, du bist so schön" = "Oh world, you are so beautiful"
"O Welt, du bist so wunderschön" = "Oh world, you are so wondrously beautiful"

1 Gericke, Schwantzer, Sieber: "From all branches there bursts forth"; Högg: "From all branches still blooms forth"; I. Lachner: "Now from the lush branches bursts forth"; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Hiller: "fresh May-greenery"
3 Billeter: "little"
4 Hiller: "toward"


This text was added to the website: 2020-07-03
Line count: 21
Word count: 108

Translation © by Sharon Krebs