English translations of Fünf Duette, opus 66

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Klänge I
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Klänge I", op. 66 (Fünf Duette) no. 1 (<<1875), published 1876 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus der Erde quellen Blumen,
Aus der Sonne quillt das Licht,
Aus dem Herzen quillt die Liebe,
Und der Schmerz, der es zerbricht.

Und die Blumen müssen welken,
Und dem Lichte folgt die Nacht,
Und der Liebe folgt das Sehnen,
Das das Herz so düster macht.

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by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
1. Sounds
Language: English 
  Flowers spring from the earth,
 light spills from the sun;
 love flows from the heart,
 and so does pain, which breaks it.
 
 And the flowers must wilt,
 and night follow day;
 and yearning follows the love
 that makes the heart so gloomy.

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: 43

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Klänge II
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Klänge II", op. 66 (Fünf Duette) no. 2 (<<1875), published 1876 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn ein müder Leib begraben,
Klingen Glocken ihn zur Ruh,
Und die Erde schließt die Wunde
Mit den schönsten Blumen zu.

Wenn die Liebe wird begraben,
Singen Lieder sie zur Ruh,
Und die Wunde bringt die Blumen --
Doch das Grab erst schließt sie zu.

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by Klaus Groth (1819 - 1899)
2. Sounds
Language: English 
When a weary body is buried,
bells chime it to sleep;
and the earth closes the wound
with the loveliest flowers!

When love is buried,
songs sing it to sleep; 
and the wound yields flowers,
but only the grave will close it!

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.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Am Strande
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Am Strande", op. 66 (Fünf Duette) no. 3, published 1876 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es sprechen und blicken die Wellen
Mit sanfter Stimme,
Mit freundlichem Blick,
Und wiegen die träumende Seele
In ferne Tage zurück.

Aus fernen, verklungene Tagen
Spricht's heimlich
Mit sanften Stimmen zu mir.
Schaut's heimlich
Mit freundlichen Blicken
Zum Wandrer am Strande hier.

Mir ist, als hätten die Stimmen
Die je die Seele
Mir sanft bewegt
Und alle die freundlichen Blicke
Sich in die Wellen gelegt.

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by Hermann Hölty (1828 - 1897)
3. Along the shore
Language: English 
The waves peer out and chatter
In a gentle voice,
With a friendly gaze,
And lull the dreaming soul
Back to distant days.

From those distant, faded days
They speak furtively 
to me, in a gentle voice.
They watch furtively
With a friendly gaze
At the wanderer here on the shore.

To me it is as if all the voices
That ever gently
Moved my soul,
And all the friendly glances,
Repose in those waves.

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: 2015-09-16
Line count: 16
Word count: 75

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Jägerlied
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Jägerlied", op. 66 (Fünf Duette) no. 4 (1875), published 1876 [ vocal duet for soprano and piano with piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Jäger, was jagst du die Häselein?
Häselein jag' ich, das muß so sein.
Jäger, was steht dir im Auge dein?
Tränen wohl sind es, das muß so sein.

Jäger, was hast du im Herzelein?
Liebe und Leiden, das muß so sein.
Jäger, wann holst du dein Liebchen heim?
Nimmer, ach nimmer, das muß so sein.

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by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872)
4. Huntsman's song
Language: English 
Huntsman, why do you hunt the hare?
I hunt the hare, it must be so.
Huntsman, what is that in your eye?
Tears they are, it must be so.

Huntsman, what do you have in your heart?
Love and sorrow, it must be so.
Huntsman, when will you fetch home your beloved?
Never, ah never, it must be so.

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.


Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Hüt du dich
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Hüt du dich", op. 66 (Fünf Duette) no. 5 (1875), published 1876, stanzas 1-3,5 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich weiß mir'n Mädchen hübsch und fein, 
  hüt du dich!
Es kann wohl falsch und freundlich sein,
  hüt du dich!
Vertrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!

Sie hat zwei Äuglein, die sind braun,
  hüt du dich!
Sie werd'n dich überzwerch anschaun,
  hüt du dich!
Vertrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!

Sie hat ein licht goldfarbenes Haar,
  hüt du dich!
Und was sie red't, das ist nicht wahr,
  hüt du dich!
Vertrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!

 ... 

Sie gibt dir'n Kränzlein fein gemacht,
  hüt du dich! 
Für einen Narr'n wirst du geacht,
  hüt du dich!
Vetrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
5.
[Translation not yet available]