English translations of 6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte, opus 134

by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890)

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1. Die stille Wasserrose
 (Sung text)
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Die stille Wasserrose", op. 134 (6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1868 [ alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die stille Wasserrose
Steigt aus dem blauen See,
Die feuchten Blätter zittern,
Der Kelch ist weiß wie Schnee.

Da gießt der Mond vom Himmel
All' seinen gold'nen Schein,
Gießt alle seine Strahlen
In ihren Schooß hinein.

Im Wasser um die Blume
Kreiset ein weißer Schwan,
Er singt so süß, so leise
Und schaut die Blume an.

Er singt so süß, so leise
Und will im Singen vergehn --
O Blume, weiße Blume,
Kannst du das Lied verstehn?

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. The quiet lotus-blossom/water-rose
Language: English 
The quiet lotus blossom
sprouts from the pond so blue,
its leaves all glimmer and sparkle,
its bud is white as snow.

The moon pours down from heaven
all of its golden shine,
pours all its golden moonbeams
into her blossom heart.

In water 'round the blossom
circles the whitest swan
it sings so sweet, so softly
and gazes on the bloom.

It sings so sweet, so softly
and would but perish in song.
O blossom, whitest blossom,
can you conceive the song?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 83

Translation © by David Kenneth Smith
2. Frühling
 (Sung text)
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Frühling", op. 134 (6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1868 [ alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und wenn die Primel schneeweiß blickt
Am Bach, am Bach aus dem Wiesengrund,
Und wenn vom Baum die Kirschblüth nickt 
Und die Vöglein pfeifen im Wald allstund:
Da flickt der Fischer das Netz in Ruh,
Denn der See liegt heiter im Sonnenglanz;
Da sucht das Mädel die rothen Schuh,
Und schnürt das Mieder sich eng zum Tanz,
Und denket still,
Ob der Liebste, der Liebste nicht kommen will.

Es klingt die Fiedel, es brummt der Baß,
Der Dorfschulz sitzet im Schank beim Wein,
Die Tänzer drehn sich ohn' Unterlaß 
An der Lind', an der Lind' im Abendschein.
Und geht's nach Haus' um Mitternacht,
Glühwürmchen trägt das Laternchen vor,
Da küsset der Bube sein Dirnel sacht,
Und sagt ihr leis' ein Wörtchen ins Ohr,
Und sie denken beid':
O du selige fröhliche Maienzeit.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. Spring
Language: English 
And when the primrose peeks, white as snow,
Out of the meadow beside the brook,
When the cherry blossom nods
And the birds whistle in the forest at all hours:
Then the fisher mends his net in peace,
For the lake rests serenely in the sunshine;
Then the maiden searches for her shoes
And laces her bodice tightly for the dance,
And wonders silently
If her beloved will not come.

The fiddle sounds, the bass booms,
The sheriff sits in the pub drinking wine,
The dancers twirl unceasingly
[By the lime tree, by the lime tree,]1 In the evening glow.
And when they're on their way home at midnight
The fireflies light them on their way with their lanterns;
Then he kisses his girl gently
And whispers a word in her ear,
And they both think [to themselves]:
Oh you blissful, happy Maytime!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 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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1 omitted by Schumann


This text was added to the website: 2009-05-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 144

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Er ist's
 (Sung text)
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Er ist's", op. 134 (6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1868 [ alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Frühling läßt sein blaues Band
Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte;
Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land.
Veilchen träumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen.
-- Horch, von fern ein leiser Harfenton!
Frühling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab' ich vernommen!

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
3.
Language: English 
Spring lets its blue ribbon
flutter again in the breeze;
a sweet, familiar scent
sweeps with promise through the land.
Violets are already dreaming,
and will soon arrive.
Hark! In the distance - a soft harp tone!
Spring, yes it is you!
It is you that I have heard!

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: 9
Word count: 48

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag
 (Sung text)
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag", op. 134 (6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1868 [ alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Derweil ich schlafend lag,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag,
Sang vor dem Fenster auf dem Baum
Ein Schwälblein mir, ich hört' es kaum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag:

"Hör an, was ich dir sag'!
Dein Schätzlein ich verklag':
Derweil ich dieses singen tu',
Herzt er ein Lieb in guter Ruh,
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag."

O weh! nicht weiter sag'!
O still! nichts hören mag!
Flieg ab, flieg ab von meinem Baum!
-- Ach, Lieb' und Treu' ist wie ein Traum
Ein Stündlein wohl vor Tag.

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
4. An hour before daybreak
Language: English 
 As I lay sleeping,
 well an hour before daybreak,
 by my window on the tree there sang
 for me a little swallow; I could hardly hear it
 an hour before daybreak.
 
 "Listen well to what I say to you -
 your sweetheart I denounce:
 as I am singing this,
 he is clasping his love in good repose,
 an hour before daybreak."
 
 O woe! say no more!
 O silence! I want to hear no more!
 Fly away, fly away from my tree!
 Alas, love and fidelity are like a dream
 an hour before daybreak!

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: 15
Word count: 93

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Lebewohl
 (Sung text)
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Lebewohl", op. 134 (6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1868 [ alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Language: German (Deutsch) 
«Lebe wohl!» - Du fühlest nicht,
Was es heißt, dies Wort der Schmerzen;
Mit getrostem Angesicht
Sagtest du's und leichtem Herzen.

Lebe wohl! - Ach, tausendmal
Hab' ich mir es vorgesprochen.
Und in nimmersatter Qual
Mir das Herz damit gebrochen.

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
5. Farewell
Language: English 
Farewell! you feel not
what this means - this word of pain;
with a confident face
you said it, and with a light heart.
 
Farewell! Alas! a thousand times
I have pronounced it to myself,
and with insatiable torment,
broken my own heart with it!

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
"Lebe wohl" = "Farewell"
"Lebewohl" = "Farewell"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 44

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Das verlassene Mägdlein
 (Sung text)
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Das verlassene Mägdlein", op. 134 (6 Lieder für Alt mit Pianoforte) no. 6, published 1868 [ alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Früh, wann die Hähne kräh'n,
Eh' die Sternlein verschwinden,
Muß ich am Herde stehn,
Muß Feuer zünden.

Schön ist der Flammen Schein,
Es springen die Funken.
Ich schaue so drein,
In Leid versunken.

Plötzlich, da kommt es mir,
Treuloser Knabe,
Daß ich die Nacht von dir
Geträumet habe.

Träne auf Träne dann
Stürzet hernieder;
So kommt der Tag heran -
O ging' er wieder!

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by Eduard Mörike (1804 - 1875)
6. The abandoned maiden
Language: English 
Early, when the cock crows,
Before the stars disappear,
I must stand at the hearth;
I must light the fire.

Beautiful is the blaze of the flames;
[The sparks fly]1.
I gaze into the fire,
Sunk in grief.

Suddenly, it comes to me,
Unfaithful boy,
That last night
I dreamed of you.

Tears upon tears then 
Pour down;
So the day comes -
O would it were gone again!

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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Translated titles:
"Das verlassene Mägdlein" = "The abandoned maiden"
"Die Verlassene" = "The abandoned one"
1 Reinecke: "Bright fly the sparks"


This text was added to the website: 2003-10-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 70

Translation © by Emily Ezust