English translations of 6 Gesänge, opus 7

by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920)

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1. Altes Lied
 (Sung text)
by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Altes Lied", op. 7 (6 Gesänge) no. 1, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Jede Jahreszeit
Hat ihr Freud' und Leid;
Mai ist schön, doch hat er falschen Sinn.
Darum Juni mein
Sollst willkommen sein,
Nun die weißen Blüten sind dahin.

Wenn die Stralen glühn,
Ruht sich's gut im Grün,
Wenn der Vogel pfeift im Walde frei;
Unter'm Schattendach
Denkt die Seele nach,
Wird auch fröhlich und gesund dabei.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, no title

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Note: the text is quoted at the beginning of Geibel's Juniuslieder, untitled but followed by the words "Altes Lied". In some editions, stanza 2, line 3, word 1 is "Wenn".

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
1. Old Air
Language: English 
Every time of year
Has its joy and sorrow;
May is beautiful, but it has a false demeanor.
Therefore my June,
You shall be welcomed,
Now that the white blossoms are gone.

When the sunbeams burn down,
It is good to rest in the greenery,
[Where]1 the bird whistles freely in the forest;
Under the shading canopy
The soul ponders many things,
And thereby becomes joyful and healthy.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Sharon Krebs, (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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1 in some publications of Juniuslieder, "When" (Bruch uses this version)


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Die Zufriedenen
 (Sung text)
by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Die Zufriedenen", op. 7 (6 Gesänge) no. 2, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich saß bei jener Linde
Mit meinem trauten Kinde,
Wir saßen Hand in Hand.
Kein Blättchen rauscht' im Winde,
Die Sonne schien gelinde
Herab aufs stille Land.

Wir saßen ganz vershwiegen
Mit innigem Vergnügen,
Das Herz kaum merklich schlug.
Was sollten wir auch sagen?
Was konnten wir uns fragen?
Wir wußten ja genug.

Es mocht uns nichts mehr fehlen,
Kein Sehnen konnt uns quälen,
Nichts Liebes war uns fern.
Aus liebem Aug ein Grüßen,
Vom lieben Mund ein Küssen
Gab eins dem andern gern.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. The Happy Ones
Language: English 
I sat beside that linden
With my true child,
We sat hand in hand.
Not a leaf rustled in the wind,
The sun shone gently
Down upon the still countryside.

We sat silently
With intimate pleasure,
My heartbeat was barely felt.
What need we say?
What need we ask?
We knew enough.

We lacked for nothing
No longing could shake us,
What was not Love's was far away.
From dear eyes, one greeting,
From dear mouth, one kiss,
Gave one to the other happily.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 84

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder
3. Russisch
 (Sung text)
by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Russisch", op. 7 (6 Gesänge) no. 3, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Durch die Waldnacht trabt mein Thier
Sacht beim Sterngefunkel,
All mein Glück liegt hinter mir,
Vor mir nichts als Dunkel.
Welke Blätter wirbeln wild
In des Sturms Gewimmer --
Lebewohl geliebtes Bild!
Lebewohl für immer!

Ach, wohl mag der Menschenbrust
Lieb' ein Himmel scheinen,
Doch nach allzuflücht'ger Lust
Giebt sie langes Weinen.
Sehnsucht ewig ungestillt
Folgt dem kurzen Schimmer --
Lebewohl geliebtes Bild!
Lebewohl für immer!

Text Authorship:

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. Russian
Language: English 
Through the forest night my beast tramps
Softly while the stars sparkle,
All my joy lies behind me,
Before me is nothing but darkness.
Faded leaves swirl wildly
In the whimpering of the storm --
Farewell, beloved image!
Farewell forever!

Ah, well might the human bosom
Deem Love to be a heaven,
But after all too brief delight,
It gives long weeping.
Longing eternally unfulfilled
Follows the brief shimmer --
Farewell, beloved image!
Farewell forever!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 by Sharon Krebs, (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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Translated titles:
"Lebewohl" Subtitle: "Russische Volksweise" = "Farewell" Subtitle: "Russian Folksong"
"Russisch" = "Russian"
"Lebewohl" = "Farewell"


This text was added to the website: 2015-01-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Schilflied
 (Sung text)
by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Schilflied", op. 7 (6 Gesänge) no. 4, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf geheimem Waldespfade
Schleich' ich gern im Abendschein
An das öde Schilfgestade,
Mädchen, und gedenke dein!

Wenn sich dann der Busch verdüstert,
Rauscht das Rohr geheimnisvoll,
Und es klaget und es flüstert,
Daß ich weinen, weinen soll.

Und ich mein', ich höre wehen
Leise deiner Stimme Klang,
Und im Weiher untergehen
Deinen lieblichen Gesang.

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by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
4. Reed song
Language: English 
Along a secret forest path
I like to creep in the evening light;
I go to the desolate, reedy banks,
and think, my maiden, of you!

As the bushes grow dark,
the reeds hiss mysteriously,
and lament and whisper,
and thus I have to weep and weep.

And I think that I hear wafting
the gentle sound of your voice,
and down into the pond sinks
your lovely song.

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 "Schilflied" = "Reed song"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Frühlingslied
 (Sung text)
by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Frühlingslied", op. 7 (6 Gesänge) no. 5, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tief im grünen Frühlingshag
Durch die alten Rüstern
Wandelt leis' am schönsten Tag
Wundersames Flüstern.

Jedes Läublein spricht: Gott grüß'!
Zu dem Laub daneben,
Alles athmet tief und süß
Heil'ges Friedensleben.

Und wie Blüt' und Blatt am Strauch
Still sich wiegt im Glanze,
Wiegt sich meine Seele im Hauch,
Der durchströmt das Ganze.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
5.
Language: English 
Deep within the green springtime grove
Through the old elms
On the [most beautiful of days]1 there passes
A wondrous whispering.

Every little bit of foliage says: “God greet you!”
To the foliage beside it,
Everything inhales [deeply and sweetly]2
A holy [life]3 of peace.

And just as blossoms and leaves upon the shrubs
Quietly sway [in]4 the brilliance,
My soul moves in the breath
That floods throughout the whole scene.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Sharon Krebs, (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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Translations of titles:
"Frühlingsflüstern" = "Whispering of spring"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Tief im grünen Frühlingshag" = "Deep within the green springtime grove"

1 Hoven: "beautiful day"
2 Hoven: "sweetly and deeply"
3 Hoven: "trembling"
4 Hoven, Stegmayer: "upon"


This text was added to the website: 2015-02-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Frisch gesungen
 (Sung text)
by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Frisch gesungen", op. 7 (6 Gesänge) no. 6, published 1859 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hab' oft im Kreise der Lieben
  Im duftigen Grase geruht,
Und mir ein Liedchen gesungen,
  Und alles war hübsch und gut.

Hab' einsam auch mich gehärmet
  Und hatte nicht Sinn und Muth
Doch kam ich wieder zu singen
War Alles auch wieder gut.

Und manches, was ich erfahren,
  Verkocht' ich in stiller Wuth,
Doch kam ich wieder zu singen,
  War alles auch wieder gut.

Drum sollst nicht lange klagen,
  Was alles dir wehe thut,
Nur frisch, nur frisch gesungen!
  Und alles wird wieder gut.

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Note: Speyer has a typo in stanza 4, line 2, word 5 ("that" instead of "thut").

by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838)
6. Vigorously sung
Language: English 
In the circle of my dear ones, I [have often]1
  Rested in the scented grass,
And sung a song to myself,
  And everything was lovely and good.

I have grieved in solitary sorrow,
  [With anxious, sombre spirit]2,
[And then I sang again,
  And everything was once more in order.]3

And much that I have experienced,
  I brooded upon in silent wrath,
[And]4 when I returned to singing
  Everything was once more in order.

[You are]5 not to lament to us at length
  About everything that hurts you,
Only sing -- sing boldly!
  And everything will once more be in order.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Sharon Krebs, (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: 

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1 Lang: "have"
2 Bruch: "And had neither good spirits nor courage"
3 Bruch: "But when I returned to singing / Everything was in order again as well."
4 Bruch: "But"
5 Bruch: "You are, therefore,"


This text was added to the website: 2011-01-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 105

Translation © by Sharon Krebs