English translations of Zweistimmige Lieder, opus 114

by Conradin Kreutzer (1780 - 1849)

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1. Der gesunkene Stern  [sung text not yet checked]
by Conradin Kreutzer (1780 - 1849), "Der gesunkene Stern", op. 114 (Zweistimmige Lieder) no. 2 [ duet for 2 sopranos (or soprano and alto) ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es fällt ein Stern herunter
Aus seiner funkelnden Höh;
Das ist der Stern der Liebe,
Den ich dort fallen seh.
 
Es fallen vom Apfelbaume,
Der [weißen Blätter so viel]1,
Es kommen die neckenden [Lüfte]2,
Und treiben damit ihr Spiel.
 
Es singt [der]3 Schwan im [Weiher]4,
Und rudert auf und ab,
Und immer leiser singend,
Taucht er ins Flutengrab.
 
Es ist so still und [dunkel]5!
Verweht ist Blatt und Blüt',
Der Stern ist knisternd zerstoben,
Verklungen das Schwanenlied.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 163.

1 Backer-Grøndahl, Haine: "Blüten und Blätter viel"; Cui, Gernsheim, Pfitzner: "Blüten und Blätter so viel"; Mangold: "weißen Blätter viel"; Unger: "Blätter und Blüten viel"
2 Gernsheim: "Winde"
3 Unger: "ein"
4 Gernsheim: "Wasser"
5 Haine, Mangold: "so dunkel"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. A star is tumbling downward
Language: English 
A star is tumbling downward
From where it sparkled on high,
It is the star for lovers,
That falling there I spy.

The apple tree has been shedding
White petals abundantly
Along come the breezes so teasing
And toying with the debris.

The swan sings in the water,
And paddles o'er each wave,
And singing ever softer,
Dives to his watery grave.

It is so dark and silent,
Swept off are bloom and leaf,
The star has fizzled and scattered;
And faded, the swan's song, so brief.

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  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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: 16
Word count: 87

Translation © by Walter Meyer