English translations of Zwei Lieder für 1 Mittelstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 98

by Friedrich [Fritz] Kirchner (1840 - 1907)

1. Berg' und Burgen schaun herunter  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich [Fritz] Kirchner (1840 - 1907), "Berg' und Burgen schaun herunter", op. 98 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Mittelstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1884 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Berg' und Burgen schaun herunter
in den spiegelhellen Rhein,
und mein Schiffchen segelt munter,
rings umglänzt von Sonnenschein.

Ruhig seh' ich zu dem Spiele
goldner Wellen, kraus bewegt;
still erwachen die Gefühle,
die ich tief im Busen hegt'.

Freundlich grüssend und verheißend
lockt hinab des Stromes Pracht;
doch ich kenn' ihn, oben gleißend,
birgt sein Innres Tod und Nacht.

Oben Lust, im Busen Tücken,
Strom, du bist der Liebsten Bild!
Die kann auch so freundlich nicken,
lächelt auch so fromm und mild.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Mountains and castles gaze down
Language: English 
 Mountains and castles gaze down
 into the mirror-bright Rhine,
 and my little boat sails merrilly,
 the sunshine glistening around it.
 
 Calmly I watch the play
 of golden, ruffled waves surging;
 silently feelings awaken in me
 that I have kept deep in my heart.
 
 With friendly greetings and promises,
 the river's splendor beckons;
 but I know it - gleaming above
 it conceals within itself Death and Night.
 
 Above, pleasure; at heart, malice;
 O river, you are the very image of my beloved!
 She can nod with just as much friendliness,
 also smiling so devotedly and gently.

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: 16
Word count: 94

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Mondnacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich [Fritz] Kirchner (1840 - 1907), "Mondnacht", op. 98 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Mittelstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1884 [ medium voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es war, als [hätt']1 der Himmel,
Die Erde still geküßt,
Daß sie im Blütenschimmer
Von ihm [nun]2 träumen müßt.

Die Luft ging durch die Felder,
Die Ähren wogten sacht,
Es rauschten leis die Wälder,
So sternklar war die Nacht.

Und meine Seele spannte
Weit ihre Flügel aus,
Flog [durch]3 die stillen [Lande]4,
Als flöge sie nach Haus.

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Note for line 1: on the repetition in Thuille's song, "hätt'" becomes "hätte".

1 Hutter: "ob"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Brahms, Schumann: "nur"
3 Thuille: "über"
4 Brahms: "Räume"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
2. Moonlit night
Language: English 
It was as if the sky
Had quietly kissed the earth,
So that, glistening with blossoms,
She must only dream of him.1

The breeze wafted through the fields,
The ears of corn waved gently,
The forests rustled faintly,
So sparkling clear was the night.

And my soul stretched 
its wings out far,
Flew through the still lands,
as if it were flying home.

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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View original text (without footnotes)
Translation of title "Mondnacht" = "Moonlit night"
1 In German, "Die Erde" (the earth) is feminine and "Der Himmel" (the sky) is masculine.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Emily Ezust