English translations of Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor, opus 7

by Caesar Hochsteter

1. Abendlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Caesar Hochsteter , "Abendlied", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 1, published 1887 [ ttbb chorus ], Lausanne: Fötisch
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nun schlafen die Vöglein im Neste,
Nun schlummern die Blüthen am Strauch,
Und unter dem Himmel die Weste,
Horch, horch! sie ruhen nun auch.

Nur droben, da wachen die Sterne
Und singen ihr ewiges Lied,
Das, hallend [aus]1 endloser Ferne,
Leis über die Erde noch zieht.

Und der da von Anbeginn lenket
Das ganze [schimmernde]2 Heer,
Auch deiner liebend gedenket,
Du giltst ihm ja noch viel mehr.

Der segnet die Vöglein und Blüthen,
Und leitet der Winde Hauch,
Der wird auch dich wohl behüten,
So [ruh' im]3 Frieden nun auch!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874, mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 105-106.

1 Kienzl: "in"
2 Kienzl: "schlummernde"
3 Kienzl: "ruhe in"

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
1. Evening song
Language: English 
Now the little birds are sleeping in their nests,
Now the blossoms on the bush are slumbering,
And the west winds under the canopy of heaven,
Hark, hark! they, too, are now resting.

Only on high, there the stars keep watch
And sing their eternal song,
That, echoing [from]1 endless distances,
Still quietly passes over the earth.

And He who from the beginning has directed
The whole [shimmering]2 host,
Thinks lovingly of you as well,
For you are much more important to Him [than they].

He blesses the birdlets and blossoms,
And orders the breath of the wind;
He shall protect you as well,
So you, too, rest in peace now.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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 Kienzl: "in in"
2 Kienzl: "schlummernde slumbering"


This text was added to the website: 2017-06-29
Line count: 16
Word count: 113

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Wiegenlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Caesar Hochsteter , "Wiegenlied", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 2, published 1887 [ ttbb chorus ], Lausanne: Fötisch
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Ähren nur noch nicken,
Das Haupt ist ihnen schwer;
Die müden Blumen blicken,
Nur schüchtern noch umher.

[Da]1 kommen Abendwinde,
[Still wie die]2 Engelein,
Und [wiegen]3 sanft und linde
Die Halm' und [Blumen]4 ein.

Und wie die Blumen blicken,
So schüchtern blickst du nun,
Und wie die Ähren nicken
Will auch dein [Häuptlein]5 ruh'n.

Und [Abendklänge]6 schwingen
[Still wie die]2 Engelein
Sich um die Wieg', und singen
Mein Kind in Schlummer ein.

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Confirmed with Kinderlieder von Hoffmann von Fallersleben. Erste vollständige Ausgabe besorgt durch Dr. Lionel von Donop, Zweite Auflage, Berlin, G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1878, page 183.

Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the word "Ähren" becomes "Aehren", but as can be seen in how "über" becomes "Ueber" when capitalized, this is due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, so we use "Ähren".

1 Decker: "Es"
2 Keller: "So still wie"
3 Decker (possibly an error): "neigen"
4 Kiel: "Büsche"
5 Ander: "Köpfchen"
6 Ander: "Abendwinde"

by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
2. Lullaby
Language: English 
Only the ears of wheat still nod,
Their heads are heavy;
The tired flowers gaze
Only shyly about now.
 
[Then come evening breezes]1,
As silently as little angels,
And softly and gently [rock]2
The stalks and [flowers]3 to rest.
 
And as the flowers gaze about,
So shyly you too gaze now,
And as the ears of wheat are nodding
Your little head wishes to rest as well.
 
And the evening sounds come gliding
Quietly, like the little angels,
About your cradle, and sing
My child into slumber.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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:
"Die Ähren nur noch nicken" = "Only the ears of wheat still nod"
"Schlummerlied" = "Slumber Song"
"Wiegenlied" = "Lullaby"
"Wiegenliedchen" = "Little lullaby"
"Wiegenlied im Sommer" = "Lullaby in summertime"

1 Decker: "The evening breezes come"
2 Decker (possibly an error): "incline"
3 Kiel: "bushes"


This text was added to the website: 2016-08-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 91

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Alpenhirt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Caesar Hochsteter , "Der Alpenhirt", op. 7 (Drei Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 3, published 1887 [ ttbb chorus ], Lausanne: Fötisch
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dort hoch auf der Alpe da ist meine Welt,
Da wo's mir auf Erden am Besten gefällt:
Da duften die Kräuter, da murmelt der Quell,
Da klingen die Glöcklein so lustig und hell,
     juchhe! so lustig und hell.

Da schau' ich die Dörfer in Nebel und Rauch,
Und athme der Bergesluft stärkenden Hauch;
Da weiß ich von keinem Gelärm' und Geschrei,
Und spiel' einen Ländler auf meiner Schalmei,
     juchhe! auf meiner Schalmei.

Und treibt mich der Winter hinunter ins Thal,
Dann denk' ich: der Sommer kommt wieder einmal!
Der Sommer der bringt mich zur Alpe zurück:
Da droben ist Alles, mein Leben, mein Glück,
     juchhe! mein Leben, mein Glück.

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Confirmed with Hoffmann's von Fallersleben Gesammelte Werke, Herausgegeben von Dr. Heinrich Gerstenberg, Zweiter Band: Lyrische Gedichte: Kinderleben, Die vier Jahreszeiten, Berlin: F. Fontane, 1891, page 189.


by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
3. The alpine shepherd
Language: English 
Yonder, high upon the alpine meadow, there is my world,
The place upon earth that I like best:
There the herbs emit their scent, there the water-spring murmurs,
There the little bells ring so merrily and brightly,
     hurray! so merrily and brightly.

There I see the villages in mist and smoke,
And breathe strengthening mountain air;
There I know of no noise and screaming,
And play a Ländler upon my shawm,
     hurray! upon my shawm.

And when winter drives me down into the valley,
Then I think: summer will return sometime!
Summer will bring me back to the alpine meadow:
Up there is everything, my life, my happiness,
     hurray! my life, my happiness.

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:
"Der Alpenhirt" = "The alpine shepherd"
"Der Hirtenknabe" = "The shepherd lad"



This text was added to the website: 2025-06-15
Line count: 15
Word count: 113

Translation © by Sharon Krebs