English translations of Sängerfahrt : achtzehn Lieder, opus 96

by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890)

1. Ihre Gestalt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Ihre Gestalt", op. 96 (Sängerfahrt : achtzehn Lieder), Heft 1 no. 3, note: same as op. 54 no. 3 but in a different key
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Mir träumte: [traurig]1 [schaute]2 der Mond,
Und traurig schienen die Sterne;
Es trug mich zur Stadt, wo Liebchen wohnt,
Viel hundert Meilen ferne.

  Es hat mich zu ihrem Hause geführt,
Ich küßte die Steine der Treppe,
Die oft ihr kleiner Fuß berührt
Und ihres Kleides Schleppe.

  Die Nacht war lang, die Nacht war kalt,
Es waren so kalt die Steine;
Es [lugt']3 aus dem Fenster die blasse Gestalt,
Beleuchtet vom Mondenscheine!

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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 128.

1 Seligmann: "schaurig"
2 von Erlanger: "schien"
3 von Erlanger: "luch" ?

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. Her form
Language: English 
[I dreamt: the moon gazed sadly]1,
And sadly shone the stars;
I was carried to the city where my beloved lives,
Many hundreds of miles away.

I was led to her house,
I kissed the stones of the stoop
That her little foot
And the train of her dress had touched.

The night was long, the night was cold,
The stones were so cold;
Her pale form peers out of the window,
Illumined by moonlight!

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):
"An Sie" = "To her"
"Ihre Gestalt" = "Her form"
"Mir träumte" = "I dreamt"
"Mir träumte, schaurig schaute der Mond" = "I dreamt, the moon gazed gruesomely"
"Mir träumte: traurig schaute der Mond" = "I dreamt: the moon gazed sadly"
"Mir träumte: traurig schien der Mond" = "I dreamt: the moon shone sadly"
"Sehnsucht II" = "Yearning II"
"Traumbild" = "Dream image"

1 von Erlanger: " I dreamt: the moon shone sadly"; Seligmann: "I dreamt, the moon gazed gruesomely"


This text was added to the website: 2020-08-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Warum?  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Warum?", op. 96 (Sängerfahrt : achtzehn Lieder), Heft 1 no. 5
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warum sind [denn]1 die Rosen so blaß?
O sprich mein Lieb warum?
Warum sind denn im grünen Gras
Die blauen Veilchen so stumm?

Warum singt denn mit so kläglichem Laut,
Die Lerche in der Luft?
Warum steigt denn aus dem Balsamkraut
Verwelkter Blütenduft?

Warum scheint denn die Sonn' auf die Au,
So kalt und verdrießlich herab?
Warum ist denn die Erde so grau,
Und öde wie ein Grab?

Warum bin ich selbst so krank und so trüb?
Mein liebes Liebchen sprich
O sprich mein herzallerliebstes Lieb,
Warum verließest du mich?

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 129.

1 Zenger: "doch"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. Why are the roses so pale?
Language: English 
 Why are the roses so pale?
 o speak, my love, why?
 Why in the green grass
 are the blue violets so silent?
 
 Why with such a lamenting voice
 does the lark sing in the sky?
 Why from the balsam weed does there rise
 the scent of wilting blossoms?
 
 Why does the sun shine down on the meadow,
 so coldly and morosely?
 Why is the earth so gray
 and desolate like a grave?
 
 Why am I myself so ill and dull?
 My lovely darling speak,
 O speak, my heart's most beloved love,
 why have you abandoned me?

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: 96

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Um Mitternacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Um Mitternacht", op. 96 (Sängerfahrt : achtzehn Lieder), Heft 2 no. 11
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Mitternacht war [kalt]1 und stumm;
Ich irrte klagend im Wald herum.
Ich habe die Bäum aus dem Schlaf gerüttelt;
Sie haben mitleidig die Köpfe geschüttelt.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 165.

1 Gus: "so kalt"; further changes may exist not shown above.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. At Midnight
Language: English 
Midnight was cold and silent;
I wandered, sobbing, through the forest.
I disturbed the trees from their slumber;
They shook their heads in pity.

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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Die Mitternacht" = "Midnight"
"Die Mitternacht war kalt" = "The Midnight Was Cold"
"Die Mitternacht war kalt: Duett" = "The Midnight Was Cold: Duet"
"Die Mitternacht war kalt und stumm" = "Midnight was cold and silent"
"Mitternacht" = "Midnight"
"Traumbild" = "Dream Image"
"Um Mitternacht" = "At Midnight"



This text was added to the website: 2022-12-22
Line count: 4
Word count: 24

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
4. Frühlingslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Frühlingslied", op. 96 (Sängerfahrt : achtzehn Lieder), Heft 3 no. 15
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise [zieht]1 durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

[Kling']2 hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die [Blumen]3 sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 10.

Note: modern German would change the spelling "Gemüth" to "Gemüt"

1 Quiteria: "klingt"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Grieg: "Zieh"
3 Gade, Grieg, Urspruch, Zenger: "Veilchen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Sweet chimes are softly filling my soul
Language: English 
Sweet chimes are softly
filling my soul;
Ring, little springtime-song
Ring out: far and wide.

Go forward till you reach the house,
where the violets bloom;
And if you see a rose,
give her my greetings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas