English translations of Zwei Gesänge für Alt mit Bratsche und Pianoforte, opus 91
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
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1. Gestillte Sehnsucht
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Gestillte Sehnsucht", op. 91 (Zwei Gesänge für Alt mit Bratsche und Pianoforte) no. 1 (1884), published 1884, stanzas 1-2,4 [ alto, viola, piano ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch)
In goldnen Abendschein getauchet
Wie feierlich die Wälder stehn!
In leise Stimmen der Vöglein hauchet
Des Abendwindes leises Wehn.
Was lispeln die Winde, die Vögelein?
Sie lispeln die Welt in Schlummer ein.
Ihr Wünsche, die ihr stets euch reget
Im Herzen sonder Rast und Ruh';
Du Sehnen, das die Brust beweget,
Wann ruhest du, wann schlummerst du?
Beim Lispeln der Winde, der Vögelein,
Ihr sehnenden Wünsche, wann schlaft ihr ein?
...
Ach, wenn nicht mehr in goldne Fernen
Mein Geist auf Traumgefieder eilt,
Nicht mehr an ewig fernen Sternen
Mit sehnendem Blick mein Auge weilt;
Dann lispeln die Winde, die Vögelein
Mit meinem Sehnen mein Leben ein.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Gestillte Sehnsucht", appears in Jugendlieder, first published 1816
See other settings of this text.
by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866)
1. Stilled longing
Language: English
Steeped in a golden evening glow,
how solemnly the forests stand!
In gentle voices the little birds breathe
into the soft fluttering of evening breezes.
What does the wind whisper, and the little birds?
They whisper the world into slumber.
You, my desires, that stir
in my heart without rest or peace!
You longings that move my heart,
When will you rest, when will you sleep?
By the whispering of the wind, and of the little birds?
You yearning desires, when will you fall asleep?
[ ... ]
Alas, when no longer into the golden distance
does my spirit hurry on dream-wings,
when no more on the eternally distant stars
does my longing gaze rest;
Then the wind and the little birds
will whisper away my longing, along with my life.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Rückert (1788 - 1866), "Gestillte Sehnsucht", appears in Jugendlieder, first published 1816
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Translated titles:
"Gestillte Sehnsucht" = "Stilled longing"
"Sehnsucht" = "Longing"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 176
Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Geistliches Wiegenlied
by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Geistliches Wiegenlied", op. 91 (Zwei Gesänge für Alt mit Bratsche und Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1884 [ alto, viola, and piano ], Berlin, Simrock; note: the viola obbligato is based on an old German cradle hymn called "Josef, lieber Josef mein"
Language: German (Deutsch)
Die ihr schwebet Um diese Palmen In Nacht und Wind, Ihr heilgen Engel, Stillet die Wipfel! Es schlummert mein Kind. Ihr Palmen von Bethlehem Im Windesbrausen, Wie mögt ihr heute So zornig sausen! O rauscht nicht also! Schweiget, neiget Euch leis und lind; Stillet die Wipfel! Es schlummert mein Kind. Der Himmelsknabe Duldet Beschwerde, Ach, wie so müd er ward Vom Leid der Erde. Ach nun im Schlaf ihm Leise gesänftigt Die Qual zerrinnt, Stillet die Wipfel! Es schlummert mein Kind. Grimmige Kälte Sauset hernieder, Womit nur deck ich Des Kindleins Glieder! O all ihr Engel, Die ihr geflügelt Wandelt im Wind, Stillet die Wipfel! Es schlummert mein Kind.
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), appears in Spanisches Liederbuch, in 1. Geistliche Lieder, no. 4 [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Spanish (Español) by Lope Felix de Vega Carpio (1562 - 1635), no title, appears in Pastores de Belén. Prosas y Versos Divinos
See other settings of this text.
by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. You who hover
Language: English
You who hover Around these palms In night and wind, You holy angels, Silence the treetops, My child is sleeping. You palms of Bethlehem In the roaring wind, How can you today Bluster so angrily! O roar not so! Be still, bow Softly and gently; Silence the treetops! My child is sleeping. The child of heaven Endures the discomfort, Oh, how tired he has become Of earthly sorrow. Oh, now in sleep, Gently softened, His pain fades, Silence the treetops! My child is sleeping. Fierce cold Comes rushing, How shall I cover The little child's limbs? O all you angels, You winged ones Wandering in the wind. Silence the treetops! My child is sleeping.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder and Rebecca Plack, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), appears in Spanisches Liederbuch, in 1. Geistliche Lieder, no. 4 [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Spanish (Español) by Lope Felix de Vega Carpio (1562 - 1635), no title, appears in Pastores de Belén. Prosas y Versos Divinos
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-08
Line count: 33
Word count: 115
Translation © by Lawrence Snyder, Rebecca Plack