English translations of Vier Gesänge, opus 70

by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

1. Im Garten am Seegestade
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Im Garten am Seegestade", op. 70 (Vier Gesänge) no. 1 (1877), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Garten am Seegestade
Uralte Bäume stehn,
In ihren hohen Kronen
Sind kaum die Vögel zu sehn.

Die Bäume mit hohen Kronen,
Die rauschen Tag und Nacht,
Die Wellen schlagen zum Strande,
Die Vöglein singen sacht.

Das gibt ein Musizieren
So süß, so traurig bang,
Als wie verlorner Liebe
Und ewiger Sehnsucht Sang.

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by Karl von Lemcke (1831 - 1913)
1. In the garden at the seashore
Language: English 
In the garden at the seashore
 Stand primeval trees;
 In their high tops
 Are the birds hardly to be seen.

 The trees with high tops
 Rustle day and night;
 The waves beat against the shore;
 The birds sing softly.

This makes a music
 So sweet, so sadly fearful,
 It is like a song of lost Love 
 And endless yearning.

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: 12
Word count: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Lerchengesang
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Lerchengesang", op. 70 (Vier Gesänge) no. 2 (1877), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ätherische ferne Stimmen,
Der Lerchen himmlische Grüße,
Wie regt ihr mir so süße
Die Brust, ihr lieblichen Stimmen!

Ich schließe leis mein Auge,
Da ziehn Erinnerungen
In sanften Dämmerungen
Durchweht vom Frühlingshauche.

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by Karl August Candidus (1817 - 1872)
2. The larks' song
Language: English 
Ethereal, distant voices,
The heavenly greetings of the larks:
How sweetly you move
My heart, you lovely voices!

I close my eyes gently;
There pass memories
Of soft twilights,
Pervaded with the breath of Spring.

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: 35

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Serenade
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Serenade", op. 70 (Vier Gesänge) no. 3, published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Liebliches Kind,
Kannst du mir sagen,
Warum einsam und stumm 
Zärtliche Seelen
Immer sich quälen,
Selbst sich betrüben,
Und ihr Vergnügen
Immer nur ahnen,
Da wo sie nicht sind?
Kannst du mir's sagen,
Liebliches Kind?

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by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3.
Language: English 
Lovely child,
can you tell me,
[tell me why
tender souls,
alone and mute,]1
always torture themselves,
why they [beguile themselves]2,
and why they seem to suspect
that their pleasures 
will be where they are not;
can you not tell me this,
lovely child?

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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Brahms, Bruch, Neefe, and some others: "why, alone and mute,/ tender souls"
2 Brahms: "make themselves gloomy"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Abendregen
 (Sung text)
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Abendregen", op. 70 (Vier Gesänge) no. 4 (1875), published 1877 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Langsam und schimmernd fiel ein Regen,
In den die Abendsonne schien;
Der Wandrer schritt auf engen Wegen
Mit düstrer Seele drunter hin.

Er sah die großen Tropfen blinken
Im Fallen durch den goldnen Strahl;
Er fühlt' es kühl aufs Haupt ihm sinken
Und sprach mit schauernd süßer Qual:

Nun weiß ich, daß ein Regenbogen
Sich hoch um meine Stirne zieht,
Den auf dem Pfad, den ich gezogen,
Die heitre Ferne spielen sieht.

Und die mir hier am nächsten stehen,
Und wer mich scharf zu kennen meint,
Sie können selber doch nicht sehen,
Wie er versöhnend ob mir scheint.

So wird, wenn andre Tage kommen,
Die sonnig auf dies Heute sehn,
 Ob meinem fernen, bleichen Namen
Der Ehre Regenbogen stehn.

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by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890)
4. Evening rain
Language: English 
Slowly and resplendently fell a rainshower
Through which the evening sun shone:
Beneath it, the wanderer walked on narrow paths
With a gloomy soul.

He saw the large drops flashing
In their descent through the golden rays;
They felt cool on his head as they tumbled down
And he spoke with quivering, sweet agony:

Now I know that a rainbow
Stretches high above my brow
On the path that I've taken,
And from a great distance it can be seen playing.

And those who stand here nearby,
And think they know me so deeply,
They nevertheless cannot see
How it shines about me so propitiously.

So it will be that when other days come
And look back sunnily on this day today,
Above my distant, faded name
A rainbow of glory will stand.

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: 20
Word count: 133

Translation © by Emily Ezust