English translations of Drei Duette, opus 11

by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858)

1. Das Lied der Nachtigall  [sung text not yet checked]
by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Das Lied der Nachtigall", op. 11 (Drei Duette) no. 1, published 1839 [ duet for 2 female voices with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus meinen Tränen sprießen
Viel blühende Blumen hervor,
Und meine Seufzer werden
Ein Nachtigallenchor.

Und wenn du mich lieb hast, Kindchen,
Schenk' ich dir die Blumen all',
Und vor deinem Fenster soll klingen
Das Lied der Nachtigall.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 113.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. From my tears sprout forth
Language: English 
From my tears sprout forth
Many blooming flowers,
And my sighing become joined with
The chorus of the nightingales.

And if you love me, dear child,
I will send you so many flowers;
And before your window should sound
The song of the nightingale.

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  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Die Geisterinsel
 (Sung text)
by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Die Geisterinsel", op. 11 (Drei Duette) no. 2, published 1839 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein Liebchen, wir sassen beisammen,
Traulich im leichten Kahn.
Die Nacht war still, und wir schwammen
Auf weiter Wasserbahn.

Die Geisterinsel, die schöne,
Lag dämm'rig im Mondenglanz;
Dort klangen liebe Töne,
Dort wogte der Nebeltanz.

Dort klang es lieb und lieber,
Und wogt' es hin und her;
Wir aber schwammen vorüber,
Trostlos auf weitem Meer.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. My darling, we sat together
Language: English 
My darling, we sat together,
Comfortably in the light little boat;
The night was still, and we floated
on the broad watery road.

The ghostly island, the lovely one,
lay duskily in the moonlight;
there rang out lovely tones,
there the dancing mists waved.

The sounds there grew lovelier and lovelier,
and the dance surged back and forth;
but we floated past,
Comfortless on the wide sea.

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: 2003-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Der Seejungfern Gesang  [sung text not yet checked]
by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Der Seejungfern Gesang", op. 11 (Drei Duette) no. 3 [ duet for soprano and alto with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Mond ist aufgegangen
Und überstrahlt die [Welln]1;
Ich halte mein Liebchen umfangen,
Und unsre Herzen [schwelln]2.

Im Arm des holden Kindes
Ruh' ich allein am Strand;
"Was horchst du beim Rauschen des Windes?
Was zuckt deine weiße Hand?"

""Das ist kein Rauschen des Windes,
Das ist der Seejungfern [Gesang]3,
Und meine Schwestern sind es,
Die einst das Meer verschlang.""

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine, Berlin, A. Warschauers Verlag, 1827, page 90.

1 André: "Well'n"; Levi: "Wellen"
2 André: "schwell'n"; Levi: "schwellen"
3 Levi, Naumann: "Sang"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3.
[Translation not yet available]