English translations of Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella, opus 25

by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924)

1. Haidenröslein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924), "Haidenröslein", op. 25 (Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 1, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein [roth]1,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Knabe sprach: ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach: ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
 
Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half [ihr]2 doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt' es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein roth,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 17.

First published in a different version by Johann Gottfried Herder in 1772 with the title "Fabelliedchen", and again in 1779 with the title "Röschen auf der Heide" (see below).

1 Lang: "schön"
2 Reichardt: "ihm"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Rose blossom on the heath
Language: English 
Passing lad a rose blossom spied,
Blossom on the heath growing,
'Twas so fair and of youthful pride,
Raced he fast to be near its side,
Saw it with joy o'erflowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Said the lad: I shall pick thee,
Blossom on the heath growing!
Blossom spoke: Then I'll prick thee,
That thou shalt ever think of me,
And I'll not be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

And the lusty lad did pick
The blossom on the heath growing;
Blossom, in defense, did prick,
'Twas, alas, but a harmless nick,
Had to be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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: 21
Word count: 115

Translation © by Walter Meyer
2. Wanderer's Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924), "Wanderer's Nachtlied", op. 25 (Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 2, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen [Gipfeln]1
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die [Vögelein]2 schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.3

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 109; and with Goethe's Werke. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 99.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

1 Flügel, Gaugler, Hasse, Radecke: "Wipfeln" (according to the incipits given in Hofmeister) ; further changes may exist not noted above.
2 Greith, Schubert: "Vöglein"
3 Lachner adds 
Über allen Wipfeln
Ist Ruh',
Balde
Ruhest du auch.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
2. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Wanderer's Nachtlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924), "Wanderer's Nachtlied", op. 25 (Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 3, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der du [von dem Himmel]1 bist,
[Alles Leid]2 und Schmerzen [stillest]3,
Den, der doppelt elend ist,
Doppelt mit [Erquickung füllest]4,
Ach ich bin des Treibens müde!
[Was soll all der Schmerz und Lust?]5
Süßer Friede,
Komm, ach komm in meine Brust!

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Confirmed with Goethe’s Werke. Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand. Erster Band. Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1827, page 109.

First published in Christliches Magazin Herausgegeben von Joh. Konrad Pfenninger, Dritter Band, 1780, page 243, with the musical setting by Ph. Ch. Kayser.

Notes
Line 1: Backer-Grøndahl’s score has a comma after the first word (likely a typo)
Line 8: Backer-Grøndahl's score has a typo in word 5 ("meiner" instead of "meine")

1 Kirchner: "von den Himmeln"; Hiller, Milcke: "vom Himmel" (further changes may exist not shown above)
2 Rust: "Kummer, Leid"
3 Schubert: "stillst"
4 Schubert: "Entzückung füllst"
5 Rust: "Bangen Schmerzes, wilder Lust,"; Arnim and J. Marx: "Was soll all der Schmerz, die Lust?"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
3. Wanderer's night song
Language: English 
You who are from heaven,
You quiet all sorrow and pain;
And he who is doubly wretched
You fill with twice as much [comfort]1.
Ah! I am tired of being driven!
For what is all this pain and joy?
Sweet peace,
Come, ah, come into my heart!

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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1 for Schubert's version: "delight"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. In der Ferne   [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924), "In der Ferne ", op. 25 (Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 4, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Will ruhen unter den Bäumen hier,
Die [Vögelein]1 hör' ich so gerne.
Wie [singet]2 ihr so zum Herzen mir!
Von [unsrer]3 Liebe was wisset ihr
In dieser weiten Ferne?

Will ruhen hier an des Baches Rand,
Wo [duftige Blümlein]4 sprießen.
Wer hat euch Blümlein, [hieher]5 gesandt?
Seid ihr ein [herzliches]6 Liebespfand
Aus der Ferne von meiner Süßen?

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1 Aggházy, Herrmann, Unger: "Vöglein"
2 Herrmann: "singt"
3 Andersson: "meiner"
4 Aggházy: "duftige Blumen"; Herrmann: "duft'ge Blumen"
5 Brahms, Andersson: "hierher"
6 Herrmann: "herzlich"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
4. Far away
Language: English 
I will rest under the trees here,
I enjoy listening to the little birds so much;
How can your singing affect my heart so!
What do you know of our love,
In this far-off place?

I will rest here on the edge of the brook,
Where fragrant little flowers sprout.
Who has sent you little blossoms here?
Are you a heartfelt pledge of love
From my far-off sweetheart?

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: 10
Word count: 68

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Künftiger Frühling  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924), "Künftiger Frühling", op. 25 (Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 5, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wohl blühet jedem Jahre
Sein Frühling mild und licht,
Auch jener große, klare --
Getrost! er fehlt dir nicht;
Er ist dir noch beschieden
Am Ziele deiner Bahn,
Du ahnest ihn hienieden,
Und droben bricht er an.

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Confirmed with Uhlands Werke, Erster Teil, Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year], page 41, titled "Künftiger Frühling". The poem was titled "Der grosse Frühling" in the fourth edition of the collection, 1829.


by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
5.
Language: English 
For every year, there blooms
Its springtime, gentle and bright,
Yon great, clear one as well --
Take heart! you shall not miss it;
It is allotted to you yet
At the goal of your path,
You sense it here below,
And there in the beyond it shall dawn.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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 title(s):
"Getrost" = "Take heart!"
"Künft'ger Frühling" = "A future springtime"
"Künftiger Frühling" = "A future springtime"



This text was added to the website: 2023-04-12
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Abendwolken   [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexis Holländer (1840 - 1924), "Abendwolken ", op. 25 (Sechs Quartette für gemischten Chor a capella) no. 6, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wolken seh' ich abendwärts 
ganz in reinste Glut getaucht, 
Wolken ganz in Licht zerhaucht, 
die so schwül gedunkelt hatten. 
Ja, mir sagt mein ahnend' Herz:
Einst noch werden, ob auch spät, 
wenn die Sonne niedergeht, 
mir verklärt der Seele Schatten.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
6. Evening clouds
Language: English 
 Westerly I see clouds
 fully colored as purest embers,
 Clouds completely diffused in light,
 and becoming oppressively dark.
 Yes, my dreading heart tells me:
 as now it becomes late and still,
 as the sun goes down,
 shadows transfigure my soul.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 40

Translation © by John H. Campbell