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English translations of Vier Duette für Alt und Bariton mit Pianoforte, opus 28

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Die Nonne und der Ritter
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die Nonne und der Ritter", op. 28 (Vier Duette für Alt und Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 1 (1860), published 1864 [ vocal duet for alto and baritone with piano ], Wien, Spina
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Da die Welt zur Ruh' gegangen,
Wacht mit Sternen mein Verlangen;
In der Kühle muß ich lauschen,
Wie die Wellen unten rauschen.

"Fernher mich die Wellen tragen,
Die ans Land so traurig schlagen,
Unter deines Fensters Gitter,
Fraue, kennst du noch den Ritter?"

Ist's doch, als ob seltsam' Stimmen
Durch die lauen Lüfte schwimmen;
Wieder hat's der Wind genommen -
Ach, mein Herz ist so beklommen!

"Drüben liegt dein Schloß verfallen,
Klagend in den öden Hallen
Aus dem Grund der Wald mich grüßte -
's war, als ob ich sterben müßte."

Alte Klänge blühend schreiten!
Wie aus lang versunknen Zeiten
Will mich Wehmut noch bescheinen,
Und ich möcht' von Herzen weinen.

"Überm Walde blitzt's vom weiten,
Wo um Christi Grab sie streiten;
Dorthin will mein Schiff ich wenden,
Da wird alles, alles enden!"

Geht ein Schiff, ein Mann stand drinnen,
Falsche Nacht, verwirrst die Sinne,
Welt Ade! Gott woll' bewahren,
Die noch irr im Dunkeln fahren.

Text Authorship:

  • by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Die Nonne und der Ritter", written 1808, appears in Gedichte, in 7. Romanzen, Berlin, Duncker und Humblot, first published 1837

See other settings of this text.

A first, unpublished version with the title Maria von Tyrol im Kloster originated from 1808.

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. The Nun and the Knight
Language: English 
 As the world goes to rest,
 my yearning awakens with the stars;
 I must listen in the cool
 as the waves roar below!
 
 "I am brought here from far away by waves
 that beat so mournfully against the land,
 beneath the bars of your window.
 Lady, do you still know this Knight?"
 
 It is as if strange voices
 are floating through the mild air;
 once again the wind has taken them away, -
 alas, my heart is so anxious!
 
 "Over there lies your ruined castle
 lamenting in its desolate halls;
 the way the woods greeted me,
 I felt as though I must die."
 
 Old sounds burst forth,
 sunk long since in time;
 melancholy falls on me once again,
 and I feel like weeping from my heart.
 
 "Over the wood lightning flashes from afar,
 where they are fighting over the grave of Christ;
 There will I steer my ship,
 and there will everything end!"
 
 A ship leaves with a man upon it;
 false night, you bewilder the mind!
 Farewell, world! May God protect
 those who wander madly in darkness!

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Die Nonne und der Ritter", written 1808, appears in Gedichte, in 7. Romanzen, Berlin, Duncker und Humblot, first published 1837
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 178

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Vor der Tür
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Vor der Tür", op. 28 (Vier Duette für Alt und Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 2 (1862), published 1864 [ vocal duet for alto and baritone with piano ], Wien, Spina
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tritt auf den Riegel von der Tür,
Wie gern käm ich herein,
Um dich zu küssen.
"Ich laß dich nicht herein.
Schleich immer heim ganz sacht
Auf deinen Füssen."

Wohl kann ich schleichen sacht
Wie Mondenschein,
Steh nur auf, laß mich ein:
Das will ich von dir haben.
O Mägdlein, dein'n Knaben
Laß ein!

Text Authorship:

  • from Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Go to the general single-text view

from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
2. At the door
Language: English 
 Pull the bolt back from the door -
 how gladly I would come in
 to kiss you.
 "I won't let you in.
 Creep away home,
 treading ever so softly."
 
 I can creep as softly
 as moonlight;
 but stand up and let me in -
 this I do ask of you.
 O maiden, let your
 lad come in!

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 56

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Es rauschet das Wasser
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Es rauschet das Wasser", op. 28 (Vier Duette für Alt und Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 3 (1862), published 1864 [ vocal duet for alto and baritone with piano ], Wien, Spina
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie
 Es rauschet das Wasser
 Und bleibet nicht stehn;
 Gar lustig die Sterne
 Am Himmel hin gehn;
 Gar lustig die Wolken
 Am Himmel hin ziehn;
 So rauschet die Liebe
 Und fähret dahin.

Er
 Es rauschen die Wasser, 
 Die Wolken zergehn;
 Doch bleiben die Sterne, 
 Sie wandeln und gehn.
 So auch mit der Liebe, 
 Der treuen, geschicht,
 Sie wegt sich, sie regt sich,
 Und ändert sich nicht.

Text Authorship:

  • by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), no title, appears in Jery und Bätely

See other settings of this text.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. The water rushes
Language: English 
She
 The water rushes 
 And will not stay still;
 The stars pass merrily 
 In the sky,
 The clouds advance 
 Merrily in the sky,
 And so Love rushes 
 And wanders there.

He
 The waters are rushing, 
 The clouds dissolving;
 Yet the stars remain: 
 They wander and [hover]1.
 And so it happens as well with Love, 
 The true [kind]:
 It sways, it stirs,
 And does not change.

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), no title, appears in Jery und Bätely
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)
Translation of title "Es rauschet das Wasser" = "The water rushes"
1 Brahms: "drift"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Der Jäger und sein Liebchen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Der Jäger und sein Liebchen", op. 28 (Vier Duette für Alt und Bariton mit Pianoforte) no. 4 (1860), published 1864, first performed 1869 [ vocal duet for alto and baritone with piano ], Wien, Spina
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ist nicht der Himmel so blau?
Steh' am Fenster und schau'!
  Erst in der Nacht,
  Spät in der Nacht
Komm' ich heim von der Jagd.

Mädchen, der Himmel ist blau,
Bleib' am Fenster und schau'.
  Bis in der Nacht,
  Spät in der Nacht,
Heim ich kehr' von der Jagd.

"Anders hab' ich gedacht,
Tanzen will ich die Nacht!
  Bleib' vor der Tür,
  Spät vor der Tür
Willst du nicht tanzen mit mir!"

"Ist auch der Himmel so blau,
Steh' ich doch nimmer und schau'
  Ob in der Nacht,
  Spät in der Nacht
Heim du kehrst von der Jagd."

Text Authorship:

  • by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), no title, appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in Volksleben, in Allerlei Klänge aus dem Volksleben, in Kirmeß und Tanz, no. 5

Go to the general single-text view

Note: in Brahms' settting, when stanza 4 line 2 repeats, "Steh' ich doch nimmer" becomes "Steh' ich doch nicht".

by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
4.
Language: English 
"Isn't the sky so blue?
Stand at the window and look!
Not until night,
Late at night,
Will I come home from the hunt.
 
"Maiden, the sky is blue -
Stay at the window and look.
Until night,
Late at night,
I will return home from the hunt."
 
"But I planned differently -
I want to dance tonight.
You'll stay outside the door,
Late, outside the door
If you will not dance with me!
 
"The sky may be blue,
But I will never stay and look,
If at night,
Late at night
You return home from the hunt."

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874), no title, appears in Lyrische Gedichte, in Volksleben, in Allerlei Klänge aus dem Volksleben, in Kirmeß und Tanz, no. 5
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Der Jäger und sein Liebchen" = "The hunter and his love"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 96

Translation © by Emily Ezust
Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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