English translations of Vier Lieder für Männerchor, opus 48
by Gustav Hasse (1834 - 1889)
Wenn ich dereinst mein müdes Haupt Zur letzten Ruh' gelegt, Und wenn das sturmbewegte Herz Dereinstens nicht mehr schlägt; Und wenn ihr in der Erde Schooß [Versenket]1 mein Gebein: O, gebt mir noch als Abschiedsgruß Ein Lied ins Grab hinein! Wohl fand ich oft im Erdenthal Die Trauerweiden stehn, Und manchen Stern, an Hoffnung reich, Dem Traume gleich vergehn; Das Lied, [das]2 war mein Freundschaftstrahl In aller Erdenpein -- Drum gebt mir noch als Abschiedsgruß Ein Lied ins Grab hinein! Das Lied war meine höchste Lust Auf meinem [Erdengang]3, Drum senkt mich nicht so still hinab, Nicht ohne Sang und Klang! Ich sang ja oft begeist'rungsvoll Ein Lied in euern Reih'n -- Drum gebt mir noch als Abschiedsgruß Ein Lied ins Grab hinein!
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Pfeil (1835 - 1899), "Sänger-Testament", appears in Aus meiner Liedermappe. Gedichte von Heinrich Pfeil
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Wochenblatt für Asch und umgegend, IV. Jahrgang, Asch: Gustav Becker, 1867. Appears in issue no. 31, Sonnabend, den 3 August 1867, page 248; and confirmed with Blätter für literarische Unterhaltung, 1871. Issue no. 34, 17 August 1871. Appears in a critique of "Neue lyrische Gedichte" featuring fifteen new publications in the same review; the ninth is Aus meiner Liedermappe. Gedichte von Heinrich Pfeil, Leipzig, 1871: first edition, printed by the author himself. This review is on pages 537 - 542; the lyric "Sänger-Testament" appears on pages 538 - 539, explicitly stating that this poem is part of Pfeil's volume of "Gedichte."
1 Otto: "Vertrauet"2 Otto: "es"
3 Otto: "Lebensgang"
One day, when I lay my weary head To its final rest, And when my storm-tossed heart One day no longer beats; And when my earthly remains Sink into earth’s womb: O give me yet, as a final farewell, A song in my grave! I often encountered, in this earthly vale, Stands of weeping willow trees, And many a star, full of hope, That faded away like dreams; Song – that was my gleam of friendship Through all of earth’s pain – So, give me yet, as a final farewell, A song in my grave! Song was my greatest pleasure On this earthly journey, So, do not lower me quietly, Not without singing and music! I often sang passionately A song in our ranks – So, give me yet, as a final farewell, A song in my grave!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 by Michael P Rosewall, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Pfeil (1835 - 1899), "Sänger-Testament", appears in Aus meiner Liedermappe. Gedichte von Heinrich Pfeil
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Translations of title(s):
"Des Sängers Testament" = "A Singer's Testament"
"Sängers Testament" = "Singer's Testament"
"Sänger-Testament" = "Singer's Testament"
"Wenn ich dereinst mein müdes Haupt" = "One day, when I lay my weary headOne day, when I lay my weary head To its final rest, And when my storm-tossed heart One day no longer beats; And when my earthly remains Sink into earth’s womb: O give me yet, as a final farewell, A song in my grave! I often encountered, in this earthly vale, Stands of weeping willow trees, And many a star, full of hope, That faded away like dreams; Song – that was my gleam of friendship Through all of earth’s pain – So, give me yet, as a final farewell, A song in my grave! Song was my greatest pleasure On this earthly journey, So, do not lower me quietly, Not without singing and music! I often sang passionately A song in our ranks – So, give me yet, as a final farewell, A song in my grave!"
This text was added to the website: 2024-03-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 138