English translations of Fünf Gesänge für eine tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 18

by Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913)

1. Im Schwarzwald  [sung text not yet checked]
by Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913), "Im Schwarzwald", op. 18 (Fünf Gesänge für eine tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich reite langsam durch das Thal,
Der Nebel hüllt die Glieder,
Die schwarzen Tannen schweigend stehn
Wie dunkle Schmerzensbrüder.

Sie horchen der geschäft'gen Axt
Und ihren klingenden Streichen,
Die bald mit ihrem scharfen Zahn
Auch sie wohl wird erreichen.

So stehn sie stumm und todtbereit
In hohen dunklen Gehegen.
In tiefem Schweigen reite ich
Auch meinem Tod entgegen.

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Confirmed with Theodor Souchay, Gedichte, Stuttgart: Karl Aue, 1873, page 2.


by Theodor Souchay (1833 - 1903)
1. In the Black Forest
Language: English 
I ride slowly through the valley,
Fog shrouds my limbs,
The black fir trees stand silently
Like dark brethren of pain. 

They listen to the busy ax
And its ringing blows,
Which, with its sharp tooth, shall soon 
Reach them as well.

Thus they stand mute and ready for death
In high, dark enclosures.
In deep silence I, too,
Ride toward my death.

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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This text was added to the website: 2023-09-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Gärtner   [sung text not yet checked]
by Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913), "Der Gärtner ", op. 18 (Fünf Gesänge für eine tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Auf ihrem Leibrößlein
So weiß wie der Schnee,
Die schönste Prinzessin
[Reit't]1 durch die Allee.

Der Weg, den das Rößlein
Hintanzet so hold,
Der Sand, den ich streute,
Er [blinket]2 wie Gold!

Du rosenfarbs Hütlein
Wohl auf und wohl ab,
O wirf eine Feder,
Verstohlen herab!

Und willst du dagegen
Eine Blüte von mir,
Nimm tausend für eine,
Nimm alle dafür!

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Confirmed with Eduard Mörike, Gedichte, Dramatisches, Erzählendes, Zweite, erweiterte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachf., 1961, page 59.

1 Killmayer: "reit' "
2 Dresel: "glänzet"

by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
2.
Language: English 
On her favorite pony
as white as snow,
the fairest princess
rides down the avenue.
 
On the path down which her steed
so finely prances,
the sand that I strewed there
glitters like gold!
 
You rose-colored little hat,
bobbing up and down,
O toss a feather
stealthily down!
 
And if, for that, you would like
a little flower from me,
take a thousand for one -
take all of them!

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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Translation of title "Der Gärtner" = "The gardener"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 69

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Dein gedenk' ich Margaretha  [sung text not yet checked]
by Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913), "Dein gedenk' ich Margaretha", op. 18 (Fünf Gesänge für eine tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sonne taucht in Meeresfluten,
Himmel [blitzt]1 in letzten Gluten,
Langsam will der Tag verscheiden,
Ferne Abendglocken läuten.
Dein gedenk' ich, Margaretha!

Haupt gelehnt [auf]2 Felsens Kante,
Fremder Mann [in fremdem]3 Lande.
Um den [Fuß]4 die Wellen schäumen,
Durch die Seele zieht ein Träumen.
Dein gedenk' ich, Margaretha!

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Confirmed with Joseph Victor von Scheffels sämtliche Werke, ed. by Johannes Franke, Erster Band, Leipzig: Hesse & Becker Verlag, 1916.

Note: at least three editions of Der Trompeter von Säkkigen (1859, 1869, 1872) have "Fluß" in stanza 2, line 3, word 3; but the editions of 1874, 1883, and 1890 have "Fuß", as does the above edition. Henschel uses "Fluß" in his setting, but since the English translation in the score has "at my feet" in that line, it seems this is a typo and "Fuß" should be sung instead.

1 Bruch, Meyer-Helmund: "strahlt"
2 Bruch, Meyer-Helmund: "an"
3 Bruch, Henschel, Kienzl, Meyer-Helmund: "im fremden"
4 Bruch, Meyer-Helmund: "Fels"

by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
3.
[Translation not yet available]
4. Es ist ein Schnee gefallen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913), "Es ist ein Schnee gefallen", op. 18 (Fünf Gesänge für eine tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ist ein Schnee gefallen,
Denn es ist noch nicht Zeit,
Daß von den Blümlein allen,
Daß von den Blümlein allen,
Wir werden hoch erfreut.

Der Sonnenblick betrüget
Mit mildem falschem Schein,
Die Schwalbe selber lüget,
Die Schwalbe selber lüget,
Warum? Sie kommt allein!

Sollt' ich mich einzeln freuen,
Wenn auch der Frühling nah?
Doch kommen wir zu zweien,
Doch kommen wir zu zweien,
Gleich ist der Sommer da!

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Goethe, Dritte Auflage, Berlin: G. Grote'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1873, page 18.


by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
4. The snow has fallen
Language: English 
The snow has fallen;
it is not yet time
for all the flowers
for all the flowers
to delight us.
 
The sun swindles us
with a mild, false glow;
even the swallow is lying,
even the swallow is lying -
and why? because he comes alone!

Should I enjoy myself alone
when Spring is so close?
Yet if there were two of us,
yet if there were two of us,
it would all at once be Summer!

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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Translations of titles:
"März" = "March"
"Es ist ein Schnee gefallen" = "The snow has fallen"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 76

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Viel Träume  [sung text not yet checked]
by Arno Kleffel (1840 - 1913), "Viel Träume", op. 18 (Fünf Gesänge für eine tiefe Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Simon
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Viel [Vögel]1 sind geflogen,
  Viel Blumen sind verblüht,
Viel Wolken sind gezogen,
  Viel Sterne sind verglüht;
Vom Fels aus Waldesbronnen
  Sind Wasser viel geschäumt:
Viel Träume sind zerronnen,
  Die du, mein Herz, geträumt.

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1 Könitz: "Vöglein"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Robert Hamerling (1830 - 1889)
5.
Language: English 
Many birds have flown,
Many flowers have bloomed,
Many clouds have passed,
Many stars have gleamed;
Out of the stony spring in the wood
Many waters have foamed:
Many dreams have melted away,
That you, my heart, once dreamed.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2022-07-01
Line count: 8
Word count: 39

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall