English translations of Drei Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte, opus 7

by Paul Zilcher (1855 - 1943)

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1. Schilflied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Paul Zilcher (1855 - 1943), "Schilflied", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1881 [ alto and piano ], Bremen, Praeger & M.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Trübe]1 wird's, die Wolken jagen,
Und der Regen niederbricht,
Und die lauten Winde klagen:
Teich, wo ist dein Sternenlicht?

Suchen den erloschnen Schimmer
Tief im aufgewühlten See.
Deine Liebe lächelt nimmer
Nieder in mein tiefes Weh!

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1 Riemann: "Frühe"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. It grows dark, the clouds are racing
Language: English 
 It grows dark, the clouds are racing,
 and the rain breaks down,
 and the noisy winds lament:
 pond, where is your starlight?

 They seek the extinguished sheen
 deep in the turbulent water.
 Your love will never smile down at me
 in my profound woe!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 45

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Vorsatz  [sung text not yet checked]
by Paul Zilcher (1855 - 1943), "Vorsatz", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1881 [ alto and piano ], Bremen, Praeger & M.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich [will's dir]1 nimmer sagen,
Wie ich so lieb dich hab',
Im Herzen will ich's tragen,
Will [stumm]2 sein wie das Grab.

Kein Lied [soll dir's]3 gestehen,
Soll flehen um mein Glück,
Du selber sollst es sehen,
Du selbst -- in meinem Blick.

Und [kannst]4 du es nicht lesen,
Was dort so zärtlich spricht,
So ist's ein Traum gewesen;
Dem Träumer zürne nicht.

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Confirmed with Robert Prutz, Buch der Liebe, Fünfte Auflage, Leipzig: Verlag von Ernst Keil, 1883, page 45. Note: C. Schnabel's score has a typo in stanza 2, line 2, word 4 ("dein" instead of "mein").

1 Becker, Dorn, Hallet, Hoth, Hoppe, Jonas, Lang, Lassen, Lederer, Naret-Koning, Nodnagel, Nordmann, Rehberg, Roeder, Schaefer, C. Schultz, Simon: "will dir's"; Bradsky, Kauffmann: "will Dir"; further changes may exist for composers with unverified texts.
2 Lang: "still"
3 Schnabel: "soll's dir"
4 Henkel: "willst"

by Robert Eduard Prutz (1816 - 1872)
2. Resolution
Language: English 
I shall never tell you
How much I love you.
I shall carry it in my heart,
And shall be as [mute]1 as the grave.
 
No song [poem] shall confess it to you,
Shall plead for my happiness;
You yourself must see it,
You yourself [must see it] in my gaze.
 
And if you cannot read
What speaks so tenderly there,
Then it was but a dream.
Do not be angry with the dreamer!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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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Translated titles:
"Entsagung" = "Renunciation"
"Ich will's dir nimmer sagen" and "Ich will dir's nimmer sagen" = "I shall never tell you"
"Mein Geheimniss" = "My secret"
"Stille Liebe" = "Silent love"
"Verschwiegene Liebe" = "Concealed love"
"Volkslied" = "Folksong"
"Vorsatz" = "Resolution"

1 Lang: "silent"


This text was added to the website: 2006-12-23
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs
3. Ständchen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Paul Zilcher (1855 - 1943), "Ständchen", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1881 [ alto and piano ], Bremen, Praeger & M.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Komm in die stille Nacht! --
  Liebchen! was zögerst du?
  Sonne ging längst zur Ruh',
  Welt schloß die Augen zu,
Rings nur einzig die Liebe wacht!

Liebchen, was zögerst du?
  Schon sind die Sterne hell,
  Schon ist der Mond zur Stell',
  Eilen so schnell, so schnell!
Liebchen, [mein]1 Liebchen, drum eil' auch du!

Sonne ging längst zur Ruh! --
  Traust wohl dem Schimmer nicht,
  Der durch die Blüten bricht?
  Treu ist des Mondes Licht.
Liebchen, mein Liebchen, was fürchtest du?

Welt schloß die Augen zu!
  Blumen und Blütenbaum
  Schlummern in süßem Traum,
  [Erde, sie]2 atmet kaum,
Liebe nur schaut [den]3 Liebenden zu! –

Einzig die Liebe wacht,
  Ruft dich [allüberall]4.
  Höre die Nachtigall,
  Hör' meiner Stimme Schall,
[Liebchen, o komm in die stille Nacht!]5

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Confirmed with Lieder eines Malers mit Randziechnungen seiner Freunde, Neu herausgegeben von Adolf Bothe, München: Verlag von Rösl u. Cie., 1919, page 6.

Note: some lines of this poem were used in Zanettovich's Lied (mond - nacht - liebes - traum - lied)

1 Wolf: "ach"
2 Mangold: "Die Erde"
3 Wolf: "dem"
4 Mangold: "überall"
5 Mangold: "Rings nur einzig die Liebe wacht! / Liebchen, o komm in die stille Nacht!"

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
3. Serenade
Language: English 
 Come to me in the silent night!
 My dear, what makes you hesitate? 
 The sun has long since gone to rest,
 the world has closed its eyes,
 around us only Love is awake!
 
 My dear, what makes you hesitate?
 Already the stars are bright,
 Already the moon is in its place,
 hurrying quickly, so quickly!
 My dear, ah my dear, you must also therefore hurry!
 
 The sun has long since gone to rest!
 Don't you trust its shine
 to break soon through the blossoms?
 True is the moon's light,
 my dear, my dear, so why are you afraid?
 
 The world has closed its eyes!
 Flowers and blossoming trees
 slumber in sweet dreams;
 the earth, it hardly breathes;
 Only Love is looking at us lovers!
 
 Love alone is awake,
 calling to you above all others.
 Hear the nightingale,
 hear my voice's call;
 my dear, o come to me in the silent night!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 25
Word count: 152

Translation © by Emily Ezust