English translations of Zwei Lieder für vier Männerstimmen, opus 25

by Ottomar Neubner (1843 - 1912)

Return to the original list

1. Schlehenblüte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ottomar Neubner (1843 - 1912), "Schlehenblüte", op. 25 (Zwei Lieder für vier Männerstimmen) no. 1, published 1890 [ ttbb quartet ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Blühender Schleh, blühender Schleh,
Schimmerst an Hecken und Rainen;
Leg' ich mich nieder in Gras und in Klee,
Möchte recht bitterlich weinen.

Blühender Schleh, blühender Schleh,
Mahnst mich an bräutliches Linnen.
Wenn ich im Arme des Andern sie seh',
Mein' ich, ich komme von Sinnen.

Blühender Schleh, blühender Schleh,
Wahr' dich vor Kälte und Wetter! 
Mir hat die Blüthen getödtet der Schnee,
Sturmwind pfeift durch die Blätter.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: Verlag von A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 72.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
1. Blackthorn blossom
Language: English 
Blossoming blackthorn, blossoming blackthorn,
You shimmer upon hedge and marge;
When I lie down in grass and clover,
I would like to weep quite bitterly.

Blossoming blackthorn, blossoming blackthorn,
You remind me of bridal linen.
When I see her in the arms of another,
I feel that I shall lose my mind.

Blossoming blackthorn, blossoming blackthorn,
Beware of cold and inclement weather!
The snow has killed the blossoms for me,
A tempest whistles through the leaves.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of title(s):
"Blühender Schleh" = "Blossoming blackthorn"
"Schlehenblüte" = "Blackthorn blossom"
"Schlehenblüthe" = "Blackthorn blossom"



This text was added to the website: 2022-06-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 76

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Fröhliche Armut  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ottomar Neubner (1843 - 1912), "Fröhliche Armut", op. 25 (Zwei Lieder für vier Männerstimmen) no. 2, copyright © 1890 [ ttbb quartet ], Berlin: Schlesinger
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So einer hat kein Zweigespann,
Der geh' zu Fusse stolz,
Und wer aus Gold nicht trinken kann,
Der trink' aus Thon und Holz. 

Ein Ritter bin ich freilich nicht,
Hab' weder Hof noch Geld;
Mein Erbgut ist das Himmelslicht,
Dazu die weite Welt. 

Und wäre Gold und Silber mein,
Karfunkel und Topas,
So trügst du nicht am Fingerlein
Den Ring mit buntem Glas. 

Doch funkelt in der Sonnengluth
Wie Diamant der Ring,
Und küssen kann ich grad so gut
Als wie ein Edeling.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Rudolf Baumbach, Spielmannslieder, Leipzig: A. G. Liebeskind, 1883, page 23. Note: the Hofmeister Monatsberichte catalog for October 1898 erroneously lists Heinrich Schrader as having set this to music instead of Hermann Schramke.


by Rudolph Baumbach (1840 - 1905)
2.
Language: English 
If someone does not have a carriage and pair,
Let him go proudly by shank’s mare,
And he who cannot drink from a golden mug,
Let him drink out of a mug of clay or wood.

I am admittedly not a knight,
I have neither land nor money;
My inheritance is Heaven’s light,
Along with the wide world.

And if I had gold and silver,
Carbuncles and topazes,
Then upon your finger you would not
Be wearing a ring with coloured glass.

Yet in the glow of the sun
The ring sparkles like a diamond,
And I can kiss just as well
As a sprig of nobility.

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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of title(s):
"Fröhliche Armuth" = "Cheerful poverty"
"So einer hat kein Zweigespann" = "If someone does not have a carriage and pair"



This text was added to the website: 2020-05-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 107

Translation © by Sharon Krebs