English translations of Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 5

by Robert Hermann (1869 - 1912)

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1. Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Hermann (1869 - 1912), "Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend", op. 5 (Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1895 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Junne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend
Über Wald und grünen Wiesen;
Goldner Mond, [am]1 blauen Himmel,
Strahlt herunter, duftig labend.

An dem Bache zirpt die Grille,
Und es regt sich in dem Wasser,
Und der Wandrer hört ein Plätschern,
Und ein Athmen in der Stille.

Dorten, [an]2 dem Bach alleine,
Badet sich die schöne Elfe;
Arm und Nacken, weiß und lieblich,
Schimmern in dem Mondenscheine.

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1 Brahms, Elling: "im"
2 Kauffmann: "in"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
At twilight the summer evening lies
Over woods and green fields;
In the blue sky the golden moon
Gleams down in a refreshing haze.

By the brook, the cricket chirps
And something stirs in the water,
And the traveler hears a splashing sound,
And a breathing in the silence.

Over there, alone by the brook,
The fair water-sprite is bathing;
Her arm and neck, white and lovely,
Shimmer in the light of the moon.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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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Translations of titles:
"Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend" = "At twilight the summer evening lies"
"Sommerabend" = "Summer evening"



This text was added to the website: 2019-12-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 74

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Hermann (1869 - 1912), "Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen", op. 5 (Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1895 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Junne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Herz, mein Herz, sei nicht beklommen,
Und ertrage dein Geschick.
Neuer Frühling [giebt]1 zurück,
Was der Winter dir genommen.

  Und wie viel ist dir geblieben!
Und wie schön ist noch die Welt!
Und mein Herz, was dir gefällt,
Alles, alles darfst du lieben!

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 136.

Note: contemporary German spelling would change "giebt" to "gibt".

1 Bruné: "bringt"; Lachner: "gibt dir"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed
Language: English 
Heart, my heart, don't be oppressed,
and bear your fate:
a new Spring will give back
what Winter has taken from you.

Just think how many things remain,
and how fair is the world!
And, my heart, whatever you find pleasing,
anything, everything - you may love!

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: 46

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Das ist ein Brausen und Heulen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Hermann (1869 - 1912), "Das ist ein Brausen und Heulen", op. 5 (Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1895 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Junne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das ist ein Brausen und Heulen,
Herbstnacht und Regen und Wind;
Wo mag wohl jetzo weilen
Mein armes, banges Kind?

Ich seh' sie am Fenster lehnen
Im einsamen Kämmerlein;
Das Auge gefüllt mit Tränen,
Starrt sie in die Nacht hinein.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 161.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. It is roaring and howling
Language: English 
It is roaring and howling,
this rainy, windy Fall night.
Where can she now be,
my woeful, fearful child?
 
I see her lean at the casement
in her lonely little room;
her eyes filled with tears,
she stares out into the night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (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: 2012-02-28
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin
4. Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Hermann (1869 - 1912), "Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht", op. 5 (Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1895 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Junne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht,
Das Leben ist der schwüle Tag.
Es dunkelt schon, mich schläfert,
Der Tag hat mich müd gemacht.

Über mein Bett erhebt sich ein Baum,
Drin singt die junge Nachtigall;
Sie singt von lauter Liebe -
Ich hör es sogar im Traum.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Death is the cool night
Language: English 
Death is the cool night;
Life is the sultry day.
It is growing dark already, and I feel drowsy, 
The day has made me weary.

Above my bed stands a tree
In which the young nightingale sings;
It sings of sonorous love -
And I even hear it in my dreams.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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: 50

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Was will die einsame Träne  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Hermann (1869 - 1912), "Was will die einsame Träne", op. 5 (Sechs kleine Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1895 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Junne
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was will die einsame Thräne?
Sie trübt mir ja den Blick.
Sie blieb aus alten Zeiten
In meinem Auge zurück.

Sie [hatte]1 viel' leuchtende Schwestern,
Die alle zerflossen sind,
Mit meinen Qualen und Freuden,
Zerflossen in Nacht und Wind.

Wie Nebel sind auch zerflossen
Die blauen Sternelein,
Die mir [jene]2 Freuden und Qualen
Gelächelt ins Herz hinein.

Ach, meine Liebe selber
Zerfloß wie eitel Hauch!
Du alte, einsame Thräne,
Zerfließe jetzunder auch!

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, Sechsundfünfzigste Auflage (56th edition), Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1887, page 147. Note: in this edition, the poem is number 29.

Modern German would change "Thräne" to "Träne".

1 Franz: "hat"
2 Cornelius: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. What does this solitary tear mean?
Language: English 
 What does this solitary tear mean?
 - it so blurs my gaze.
 It has lingered since long ago
 behind my eye.
 
 It had several shining sisters,
 which have all flown away
 with my agonies and joys,
 flown away in night and wind.
 
 Like mist have also faded away
 the blue little stars
 through which my joys and agonies
 were smiled into my heart.
 
 Alas, my love itself
 has vanished, like a vain breath!
 You old, lonely tear,
 flow down then and be gone!

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: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by Emily Ezust