English translations of Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 7

by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893)

1. Du bist wie eine Blume  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Du bist wie eine Blume", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Peters
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Du bist wie eine Blume
[So hold und schön und rein;]1
Ich [schau']2 dich an, und Wehmut
Schleicht mir ins Herz hinein.

  Mir ist, als [ob ich]3 die Hände
Aufs Haupt [dir]4 legen sollt',
[Betend]5, daß [Gott dich]6 erhalte
[So rein und schön und hold]7.

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 136.

1 Ander: "So schön, so rein und hold"; Chadwick: "So schön, so hold, so rein"; Mayer: "So hold, so schön und rein"; Becker, Thuille: "So hold, so schön, so rein"; Unger: "So rein so schön und hold"
2 Becker: "seh'"
3 Hinrichs: "ob"
4 Hinrichs: "ich dir"
5 Dreyschock: "und beten"
6 Liszt: "dich Gott"
7 Ander: "So hold und schön und rein"; Chadwick, Thuille: "So schön, so hold, so rein"; Mayer: "So rein, so schön und hold"; Becker: "So rein, so schön, so hold"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Thou art, as is a flower
Language: English 
Thou art, as is a flower,
so meek and pure and fine,
I look at thee and sadness
steals o'er the heart of mine.

I feel that both my hands softly
thy hair, thy head should seek,
praying that God may preserve thee
so pure and fine and meek.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

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This text was added to the website: 2009-08-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Der Einsiedler  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Der Einsiedler", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Komm]1, Trost der Welt, du stille Nacht!
Wie steigst du von den Bergen sacht,
Die Lüfte alle schlafen,
Ein Schiffer nur noch, wandermüd',
Singt übers Meer sein Abendlied
Zu Gottes Lob im Hafen.

Die Jahre wie die Wolken gehn
[Und]2 lassen mich hier einsam stehn,
Die Welt hat mich vergessen,
Da tratst du wunderbar zu mir,
Wenn ich beim Waldesrauschen hier
Gedankenvoll gesessen.

O Trost der Welt, du stille Nacht!
Der Tag hat mich so [müd']3 gemacht,
Das weite Meer schon dunkelt,
Laß ausruhn mich von Lust und Not,
Bis daß das ew'ge Morgenrot
Den stillen Wald durchfunkelt.

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1 von Wilm: "Komme"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Glanert: "Sie"
3 Reinthaler: "trüb"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. Come, comfort of the world, you still night
Language: English 
 Come, comfort of the world, you still night!
 How softly you climb from the hills!
 The breezes are all sleeping,
 only one sailor still, weary with travel,
 sings across the sea an evening song
 to praise God from the harbor.
 
 The years go by like clouds
 and leave me standing here alone;
 the world has forgotten me.
 Then amazingly, you came to me
 when I was here by the rustling wood,
 sitting lost in thought.
 
 O comfort of the world, you still night!
 The day has made me so weary;
 the wide sea is darkening already.
 Let me rest from joy and suffering
 until the eternal dawn
 illuminates the still wood throughout.

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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Line count: 18
Word count: 113

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mondnacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Mondnacht", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Peters
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war, als [hätt']1 der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm [nun]2 träumen müßt.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog [durch]3 die stillen [Lande]4,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

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Note for line 1: on the repetition in Thuille's song, "hätt'" becomes "hätte".

1 Hutter: "ob"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Brahms, Schumann: "nur"
3 Thuille: "über"
4 Brahms: "Räume"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Moonlit night
Language: English 
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that, glistening with blossoms,
She must only dream of him.1

The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.

And my soul stretched 
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.

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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Translation of title "Mondnacht" = "Moonlit night"
1 In German, "Die Erde" (the earth) is feminine and "Der Himmel" (the sky) is masculine.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Sehnsucht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Sehnsucht", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es [schienen]1 so golden die Sterne,
Am Fenster ich einsam stand
Und hörte aus weiter Ferne
Ein Posthorn im stillen Land.
Das Herz mir im Leib entbrennte,
Da hab' ich mir heimlich gedacht:
Ach, wer da mitreisen könnte
In der prächtigen Sommernacht!

Zwei junge Gesellen gingen
Vorüber am Bergeshang,
Ich hörte im Wandern sie singen
Die stille Gegend entlang:
Von schwindelnden Felsenschlüften
Wo die Wälder rauschen so sacht,
Von Quellen, die von den Klüften
Sich stürzen in die Waldesnacht.

Sie sangen von Marmorbildern,
Von Gärten, die über'm Gestein
In dämmernden Lauben verwildern,
Palästen im Mondenschein,
Wo die Mädchen am Fenster lauschen,
Wann der Lauten Klang erwacht,
Und die Brunnen verschlafen rauschen
In der prächtigen Sommernacht. --

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Confirmed with Deutsche Dichter der Gegenwart. Erläutert von August Nodnagel. Erstes Heft: Freiligrath. Eichendorff, Darmstadt, Verlag von Johann Philipp Diehl, 1842, page 106.

Note: the Abt score published in the US has some misprints that should be ignored: stanza 1 line 5 word 6 "entbrannte" instead of "entbrennte"; and stanza 2 line 5 word 3 "Felsenschluchten" instead of "Felsenschlüften"

1 Haeser: "scheinen" (typo?); further changes may exist not shown above.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4. Yearning
Language: English 
 The stars were shining with golden light
 as I stood alone by the window
 and listened to the distant sound
 of the posthorn in the still countryside.
 My heart became inflamed in my body,
 and I thought secretly to myself:
 Ah, if only I could journey with them
 into that magnificent summer night!
 
 Two young men were walking
 past on the slope of the mountain,
 and I heard them singing as they walked along
 in the quiet area:
 of vertiginous, rocky gullies 
 where the woods rustle so gently;
 of springs that rush out from the clefts
 into the night of the woods.
 
 They sang of marble statues,
 of gardens that grew wild upon stones
 in dusky groves;
 of palaces in the moonlight
 where maidens listen by the windows
 when the strum of lutes awakens them;
 and of fountains murmuring sleepily
 in the magnificent summer 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: 24
Word count: 146

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Es ist keiner je allein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Es ist keiner je allein", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist keiner je allein,
Wär auch Erd und Himmel Stein,
Schien kein Mond, kein Sternenschein,
Grüßte auch kein Lüftelein,
Sänge auch kein Vögelein:
Kehrt in jedem Herzen rein
Doch der liebe Gott stets ein.

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by Clemens Maria Wenzeslaus von Brentano (1778 - 1842)
5.
[Translation not yet available]
6. Sei still!  [sung text not yet checked]
by Wilhelm Kalliwoda (1827 - 1893), "Sei still!", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 6 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es weht ein sanfter Abendwind
Liebtosend in den Bäumen;
Ob Vögel, die entschlafen sind,
Von sel'ger Liebe träumen?
Sei still! Es rauscht in Gipfeln leise
Nie eines Mährchens traute Weise:
  Ade, ade, mein Lieb,
  Noch einen Kuß mir gib!

Es schlägt im Wald die Nachtigall
Gar träumerische Lieder,
Und auch des Abendglöckleins Schall
Hallt schwermuthsbange wieder.
Sei still! Die Welt ist traumeslüstern
Und Millionen Lippen flüstern:
  Ade, ade, mein Lieb,
  Noch einen Kuß mir gib!

Die Erde ist vom Mondenlicht
Mit Silberglanz umgössen;
O stör' die Braut, die sel'ge, nicht,
Ihr Aug' ist liebumflossen.
Sie schauet in die Nacht mit Lauschen
Und hört des Baches Wellen rauschen:
  Ade, ade, mein Lieb,
  Noch einen Kuß mir gib!

Dort brennt ein Licht im Kämmerlein;
Ein Jüngling liegt im Sterben.
Ist dieser Erdenball zu klein,
Daß Blüthen auch verderben?
Sei still! Die Augen wollen brechen,
Ich hör' die Lippen lächelnd sprechen:
  Ade, ade, mein Lieb,
  Noch einen Kuß mir gib!

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by Carl (or Karl) Ferdinand Haltaus (1811 - 1848)
6. Be still
Language: English 
A gentle evening wind blows,
Resounding with love in the trees;
Will the birds that have fallen asleep
Dream of blessed love?
Be still! It rustles quietly across the treetops,
Not like the little mare’s familiar path:
    Farewell, farewell, my love,
    Give me yet one more kiss!

The nightingale calls through the forest
Songs of dreamlike fantasy,
And even the peal of little evening bells
Resounds with deep melancholy.
Be still! The world desires reverie
And a million lips whisper:
    Farewell, farewell, my love,
    Give me yet one more kiss!

The earth is awash
With moonlight’s silvery glance;
Oh, do not startle the bride, the blessed one,
Her eye overflows with love.
She peers into the night, listening intently,
And hears the rush of the rippling brook:
    Farewell, farewell, my love,
    Give me yet one more kiss!

There, a light burns in the little room;
A youth lies dying.
Is this earthly globe too small,
That such blooms must also decay?
Be still! As eyes are dimming,
I hear smiling lips say:
    Farewell, farewell, my love,
    Give me yet one more kiss!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2022-06-26
Line count: 32
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Translation © by Michael P Rosewall