English translations of Sieben Lieder, opus 1

by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913)

1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 1, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen, 1 
Da [ist]2 in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 3
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 112.

1 Lachner adds: "Geweckt von süssen Schmerzen, / Von Sehnsucht sanft umfangen,"
2 Ender: "ist auch"
3 Lachner adds: "Die Blüten sich umwanden, / Die Zweige sich umschlangen,"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

Text Authorship:

  • 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: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. In dem Walde sprießt und grünt es  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "In dem Walde sprießt und grünt es", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 2, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In dem Walde sprießt und grünt es
Fast jüngfräulich lustbeklommen;
Doch die Sonne [lacht]1 herunter:
Junger Frühling, sei willkommen!

Nachtigall! auch dich schon hör' ich,
Wie du flötest selig trübe
Schluchzend langgezogne Töne,
Und dein Lied ist lauter Liebe!

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 240.

1 Hohfeld: "scheint"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Spring song
Language: English 
In the forest it blooms and greens
almost virginally full of desire;
yet the sun laughs down:
young Spring, welcome!

Nightingale, I already hear
how you sing, blissfully sad,
long, sobbing tones,
and your song is pure love!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John W. Grubbs, (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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Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by John W. Grubbs
3. Aus meinen Tränen sprießen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Aus meinen Tränen sprießen", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 3, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
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)
3. 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.

Text Authorship:

  • 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
4. Gekommen ist der Maie  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Gekommen ist der Maie", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 4, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gekommen ist der [Maye]1,
Die Blumen und Bäume blühn,
Und durch [die Himmelsbläue]2
Die [rosigen]3 Wolken ziehn.

Die [Nachtigallen]4 singen
Herab aus [der laubigen]5 Höh,
Die weißen Lämmer springen
Im weichen grünen Klee.

[Ich kann nicht singen und springen]6,
Ich liege krank im Gras;
Ich höre fernes Klingen,
Mir träumt, ich weiß nicht was.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Historisch-kritische Gesamtausgabe der Werke, herausgegeben von Manfred Windfuhr, Band 2, Neue Gedichte, bearbeitet von Elisabeth Genton, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe, 1983, pages 13-14.

1 Curschmann, Marek: "Maie"
2 Franz: "des Himmels Bläue"
3 Curschmann: "ros'gen"
4 Curschmann: "lust'gen Vöglein"
5 Curschmann: "luftiger"
6 Curschmann: "Doch ich kann nicht springen und singen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. May has come
Language: English 
May has come,
The flowers and the trees blossom,
And through the blue of heaven
The rosy clouds travel.

The [nightingales]1 are singing
Down from the [leafy]2 heights,
The white lambs are leaping about
In the soft green clover.

[I cannot sing and leap]3,
Ill I lie in the grass;
I hear a distant ringing,
I am dreaming I know not what.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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):
"Neuer Frühling" = "New spring"
"Mailied" = "May-song"
"Zum ersten Mai" = "For the first of May"
"Frühlingsankunft" = "Spring's arrival"
"Ungestillte Sehnsucht" = "Unassuaged yearning"
"Im Mai" = "In May"
"Duett" = "Duet"
"Der Mai" = "May"
"Frühlingslied" = "Spring song"
"Gekommen ist der Maie" = "May has come"
"Der neue Frühling" = "The new spring"

1 Curschmann: "merry birdlets"
2 Curschmann: "airy"
3 Curschmann: "But I cannot leap and sing"


This text was added to the website: 2020-03-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 62

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Aus meinen großen Schmerzen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Aus meinen großen Schmerzen", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 5, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus meinen großen Schmerzen
Mach' ich die kleinen Lieder;
Die heben ihr klingend Gefieder
Und flattern nach ihrem Herzen.

Sie fanden den Weg zur Trauten,
Doch kommen sie wieder und klagen,
Und klagen, und wollen nicht sagen,
Was sie im Herzen schauten.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 139.


by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. From my great sorrows
Language: English 
 From my great sorrows
 I make small songs;
 they lift their ringing feathers
 and flutter to her heart.

 They have found a way to my sweetheart,
 yet they come back and lament,
 and lament - but they will not say
 what they have seen in her 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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 6, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich stand in [dunkeln]1 Träumen
Und [starrte]2 ihr Bildniß an,
Und das geliebte Antlitz
Heimlich zu leben begann.
 
Um ihre Lippen zog sich
Ein Lächeln wunderbar,
Und wie von Wehmuthsthränen
[Erglänzte]3 [ihr]4 Augenpaar.
 
Auch meine Thränen flossen
Mir von [den Wangen]5 herab -- 
Und ach, ich [kann es]6 nicht glauben,
Daß ich Dich verloren hab'!

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Confirmed with Buch der Lieder von H. Heine. Hamburg bei Hoffmann und Campe. 1827, page 201; and with Reisebilder von H. Heine. Erster Theil. Hamburg, bey Hoffmann und Campe. 1826, page 27.

1 Mendel: "dunklen"
2 Beach, Grieg, Schubert: "starrt'"
3 Hinrichs: "das"
4 Voss: "erglänzt"
5 Voss: "der Wang'"
6 Grieg, Hinrichs, Mendel, Schumann, Voss: "kann's"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6.
Language: English 
I stood in gloomy daydreams
and gazed at her portrait,
and that well-beloved countenance
began furtively to come to life.

About her lips there seemed to glide 
a wondrous smile,
and, as if they were about to fill with nostalgic tears,
her eyes glistened.
 
And my tears flowed
down my cheeks -
and ah, I cannot believe
that I have lost you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 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
"Ihr Bildnis" = "Her portrait"
"Ihr Bild" = "Her portrait"
"Ich stand in dunkeln Träumen" = "I stood in gloomy daydreams"



This text was added to the website: 2017-10-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 61

Translation © by Emily Ezust
7. Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Henning Karl Adam von Koss (1855 - 1913), "Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein", op. 1 (Sieben Lieder) no. 7, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Halle, Karmrodt
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es ragt ins Meer der Runenstein,
da sitz' ich mit meinen Träumen.
Es pfeift der Wind, die Möwen schrein,
die Wellen, die wandern und schäumen.

Ich habe geliebt manch schönes Kind
und manchen guten Gesellen -
Wo sind [sie]1 hin? Es pfeift der Wind,
es schäumen und wandern die Wellen.

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1 Bretan: "die"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
7. The runestone juts into the sea
Language: English 
 The runestone juts into the sea,
 and I sit there with my dreams.
 The wind whistles and the seagulls shriek;
 and the waves, they wander and foam.
 
 I have loved many a fair girl
 and made many good friends -
 where have they gone? The wind whistles,
 and the waves foam and wander.

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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 52

Translation © by Emily Ezust