English translations of Drei Gesänge für eine Alt- oder Baritonstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 1

by Albert Felix, Graf Amadei (1851 - 1894)

1. Der schwere Abend  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Felix, Graf Amadei (1851 - 1894), "Der schwere Abend", op. 1 (Drei Gesänge für eine Alt- oder Baritonstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1873 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Wien, Gotthard
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die [dunklen]1 Wolken hingen
Herab so bang und schwer,
Wir beide traurig gingen
Im Garten hin und her.

So [heiß und]2 stumm, so trübe
[Und]3 sternlos war die Nacht,
So ganz, wie unsre Liebe,
Zu Tränen nur gemacht.

Und als ich mußte scheiden
Und gute Nacht [dir]4 bot,
Wünscht' ich bekümmert beiden
Im Herzen uns den Tod.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Nicolaus Lenau, Stuttgart, Karl Göpel's Verlag, Cotta'scher Druck, 1869, page 182.

1 Bolko von Hochberg, Rübner: "dunkeln"; Horn: "trüben"; Schleuning: "schweren"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Bolko von Hochberg: "heiß, so"
3 Bolko von Hochberg, Thuille: "So"
4 Thuille: "ihr"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. The oppressive evening
Language: English 
The dark clouds were hanging down
So forebodingly and heavily.
We two walked sadly to and fro
In the garden.

So hot and silent, so dreary
And starless was the night --
Just like our love,
Created only for tears.

And when I had to depart
And wished you good night,
In my sorrowing heart
I sadly wished death for us both.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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: 2008-01-09
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Wanderers Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Felix, Graf Amadei (1851 - 1894), "Wanderers Nachtlied", op. 1 (Drei Gesänge für eine Alt- oder Baritonstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1873 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Wien, Gotthard
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen [Gipfeln]1
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die [Vögelein]2 schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.3

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 109; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 99.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

1 Flügel, Gaugler, Hasse, Radecke: "Wipfeln" (according to the incipits given in Hofmeister) ; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Greith, Schubert: "Vöglein"
3 Lachner adds 
Über allen Wipfeln
Ist Ruh',
Balde
Ruhest du auch.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 8
Word count: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. In meinem Garten die Nelken
 (Sung text)
by Albert Felix, Graf Amadei (1851 - 1894), "In meinem Garten die Nelken", op. 1 (Drei Gesänge für eine Alt- oder Baritonstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1873 [ alto or baritone and piano ], Wien, Gotthard
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In meinem Garten die Nelken
mit ihrem Purpurstern
müssen nun alle verwelken,
   denn du bist fern.

Auf meinem Herde die Flammen
die ich bewacht so gern,
sanken in Asche zusammen,
   denn du bist fern.

Die Welt ist mir verdorben,
mich grüßt nicht Blume nicht Stern,
mein Herz ist lang' gestorben,
   denn du bist fern.

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Note for stanza 1, line 4: in Stuckenschmidt's setting, "du, ach du" returns to the original "du" in the repetition.

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. The carnations in my garden
Language: English 
The carnations in my garden
with their crimson center-star
they all must wilt away now,
because you are afar.

The flames in my hearth
I so loved to watch,
they crumbled to ashes,
because you are afar.

The world went sour,
with neither flower greeting me nor star -
my heart died away long ago,
because you are afar.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Linda Godry, (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: 2005-03-31
Line count: 12
Word count: 58

Translation © by Linda Godry