English translations of Sechs Gesänge, opus 7

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880)

1. Spinnerlied
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Spinnerlied", op. 7 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 1, published 1838 [ voice and piano ], München, Joseph Aibl
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Arbeit, ihr Mädchen!
Bringt süßen Gewinn:
Da schnurren am Rädchen
Lustig die neblichten Tage dahin!
 
    Mädchen, die der Ruhe pflegen,
Die gemächlich in den Schooß
Ihre zarten Hände legen,
Werden nie der Sorge los.
 
Arbeit, ihr Mädchen u.s.w.
 
    Langeweile baut im Stillen
Ihren Herd beim Müßiggang.
Unterbrochen dann von Grillen
Wird der häusliche Gesang.
 
Arbeit, ihr Mädchen u.s.w.
 
    Gern sein liebes Rädchen hören:
O das sichert vor Gefahr!
Und so tragt ihr einst in Ehren
Euren Hochzeitkranz im Haar.
 
Arbeit, ihr Mädchen u.s.w.

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by Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814)
1. Spinning song
Language: English 
Work, you maidens,
Work brings sweet gain.
The foggy days hum by joyfully
At the [spinning]-wheel.
 
Maidens who indulge in rest,
Who place their delicate little hands
Comfortably in their laps,
Will never be free of care.
 
Work, you maidens, etc.
 
Boredom quietly builds
Its hearth near idleness.
The household's singing
Is then interrupted by quirks and foibles.
 
Work, you maidens, etc.
 
Those who hear their precious [spinning]-wheel gladly
Are protected from danger,
And thus one day you shall wear with honour
The bridal wreath in your hair.
 
Work, you maidens, etc.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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: 2006-11-15
Line count: 19
Word count: 92

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Die freien Sänger
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Die freien Sänger", op. 7 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 2, published 1838 [ voice and piano ], München, Joseph Aibl
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vöglein hüpfet in dem Haine,
Vöglein hüpfet in der Brust.
Bei dem ersten Morgenscheine
Sind sie wach in Lieb' und Lust.

Denn ein freies, frohes Leben,
Freier Flug und freier Sang
Ward den Liebenden gegeben,
Und sie zieh'n die Welt entlang.

Vöglein über Thal und Hügel
Findet bei der Liebsten Ruh,
Auf! mein Herz, auch deine Flügel
Tragen dich dem Himmel zu.

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Confirmed with: Die Sängerfahrt. Eine Neujahrsgabe für Freunde der Dichtkunst und Mahlerey. Gesammelt von Friedrich Förster. Berlin: in der Maurerschen Buchhandlung, 1818, pages 109-110. Note: [sic] for stanza 1, line 3, word 3.

Notes to the Lang score: this text is misattributed to von Seckendorf. Also, the following typos have been corrected above: stanza 2 line 1 ("Dem" instead od "Denn") and stanza 2 line 4 (("Welten lang" instead of "Welt entlang").

by Friedrich Christoph Förster (1791 - 1868) and sometimes misattributed to Karl Sigmund Freiherr von Seckendorff (1744 - 1785)
2. The unfettered singers
Language: English 
Little bird hops in the grove,
Little [heart]1 hops in [my] breast.
At the first [red glow of dawn]2,
They awaken [full of]3 love and joy.

[For]4 a [joyous, free]5 life,
Unfettered flight and unfettered song,
Has been given to the lovers,
And they travel along through the world.4

The little bird [flying] over valleys and hills
Finds rest by the beloved.
Arise, my heart, your wings, too
Can carry you toward heaven.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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 Lang: "bird"
2 Lang: "glow of the morning"
3 Lang: "in"
4 The typo in Lang's score has been ignored in the translation.
5 Lang: " free, joyous "


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 80

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Frühlings‑Ruhe
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Frühlings-Ruhe", op. 7 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 3 (1833), published 1838 [ voice and piano ], München, Joseph Aibl
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O legt mich nicht ins dunkle Grab,
Nicht unter die grüne Erde hinab!
Soll ich begraben sein,
legt mich in's tiefe Gras hinein.
 
In Gras und Blumen lieg' ich so gern,
Wenn eine Flöte tönt von fern
Und wenn hoch obenhin
Die hellen Frühlingswolken ziehn.

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. Springtime's rest
Language: English 
Oh do not lay me into the [dark]1 grave,
Not down below the green earth!
If I must be buried,
[I shall lie in]2 the deep grass.
 
I [lie]3 [gladly]4 in grass and flowers,
When a flute sounds from afar,
And when high above me
The bright clouds of spring pass by.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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Translated titles:
"Frühlingsberuhigung" = "Springtime reassurance"
"Frühlingsruhe" = "Springtime's rest"
"Frühlings-Ruhe" = "Springtime's rest"
1 Schorch: "cool"
2 Lang: "Lay me into "
3 Medtner: "lay"
4 Lang: "so gladly "


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 56

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Im Herbst
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Im Herbst", op. 7 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 4, op. 11 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 6 (<<1838) [ voice and piano ], München, Joseph Aibl (op. 7 no. 4, 1838) ; Leipzig, Kistner (op. 11 no. 6, 1845)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zieh' nur, du Sonne, zieh
Eilend von hier, von hier!
Auf daß ihr Wärme komme
Einzig allein von mir!

Welkt nur, ihr Blumen, welkt!
Schweigt nur, ihr Vögelein!
Auf daß ihr sing' und blühe
Ich nur allein.

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by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
4. In autumn
Language: English 
Move, sun, only move
Quickly away from here,
So that warmth may come to her [the beloved]
From me alone.

Wilt, flowers, only wilt,
Be silent, you little birds,
So that I, I alone,
May sing and blossom for her.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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Translated titles:
"Im Herbst" = "In autumn"
"Im Herbste" = "In autumn"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 8
Word count: 40

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Das Asyl
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Das Asyl", op. 7 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 5, published 1838, stanzas 1,3,5,7 [ voice and piano ], München, Joseph Aibl
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Warme Lüfte,
Süße Düfte
Hauchet diese Flur,
Liebe dieser Berge Schimmer;
Liebe, Liebe endet nimmer,
Alles athmet Liebe nur.

 ... 

Heiter, stille
Strebt der Wille
Hier nach Zukunft nicht,
Strebet hier nicht nach der Ferne,
Denn es weilt das Herz beim Sterne
Seines Glückes, braucht es nicht

 ... 

Welch Beglücken!
Welch Entzücken
Schwingt dem Himmel zu,
Wenn ich bin in ihrer Nähe,
Wenn die Wonnige ich sehe,
Aufgelöst in sel'ger Ruh.

 ... 

Friedensstätte!
Ja! ich rette
Mich aus dem Gewühl,
Wie du mich in deine Mitte
Mit beflügelt schnellem Schritte,
Ganz zu leben dem Gefühl.

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Confirmed with: Gedichte des Königs Ludwig von Bayern, Zweyter Theil, Zweyte, vermehrte Auflage, München: im Verlage der Liter. Artist. Anstalt der J.G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung, 1829, pages 150-151.

by Ludwig I, König von Bayern (1786 - 1868)
5. The place of refuge
Language: English 
Warm breezes,
Sweet scents,
Are breathed out by this meadow.
Love, the shimmer of these mountains,
Love, love never ends.
Everything breathes only love.

[ ... ]

Joyously, quietly,
Here the will
Strives not for the future,
Here it strives not for faraway places,
For the heart is in the presence of the star
[Of its happiness, it drinks its light.]1

[ ... ]

What happiness,
What rapture
Soars toward heaven
When I am near her,
When I see the delightful one,
Dissolved in blessed peace.

[ ... ]

Place of peace!
Yes, I rescue
Myself from the turmoil,
[Rescue myself again]2 to your centre
With rapid, winged feet,
To live totally for emotion.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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 Lang: "And needs no [further] happiness."
2 Lang: "As you draw me"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 42
Word count: 194

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. Mein Plätzchen
 (Sung text)
by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Mein Plätzchen", op. 7 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 6, published 1838, stanzas 1,4-6 [ voice and piano ], München, Joseph Aibl
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich weiß mir ein Plätzchen, so heimlich und kühl!
    Das lockt mich mit Freundlichkeit an,
Das gibt mir, wohlthätig der Freuden so viel!
    Da bin ich, so oft ich nur kann.

 ... 

Wie schön hier die Gipfel des Berges begrenzt
   Die Burg, die so herrlich sich zeigt;
Am herrlichsten, wenn sie in Feuergold glänzt,
    Und Phöbus zum Meere sich neigt.

Die Kräuter der Wiesen, die Blüthen im Hain
    Verstreuen erquickenden Duft;
Kommt Zephyr und schmeichelt bei dämmerndem Schein
    Des Hespers die schlummernde Luft.

Da sitz ich verloren in glücklicher Ruh,
    Der Unmuth zerfließt dann, wie Schaum!
Das Götterkind Phantasus schleicht sich hinzu,
    Und schwatzt mich in seligen Traum.

 ...

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Confirmed with Taschenbuch für das Jahr 1824 der Liebe und Freundschaft gewidmet, herausgegeben von Dr. Stephan Schütze, Frankfurt am Main: Friedrich Wilmans, 1824, pages 310-11.

sometimes misattributed to Johann Georg Jacobi (1740 - 1814) and by C. J. (or I.) Widmann
6. My little place
Language: English 
[Now I]1 know of a little place, so secret and cool!
    It tempts me with friendliness,
It beneficently gives me so many pleasures!
    I go there as often as I can.

[ ... ]

How lovely here the [peak]2 of the mountain [is crowned]3
    By the castle, which displays itself so magnificently.
It is most beautiful when it glows in fiery gold
    And Phoebus leans toward the sea.

The herbs of the meadows, the blossoms in the grove
    Strew rejuvenating scents.
Zephyr comes and caresses, in the twilight glow
    Of Hesperus [the evening star], the slumbering breezes.

There I sit lost in happy peace.
    All ill humor dissolves like foam.
Phantasus, the child of the gods, creeps up to join me
    And prattles [to] me [until I drift] into a happy dream.

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Lang: "I"
2 Lang: "peaks "
3 Lang: "are bordered"


This text was added to the website: 2006-11-15
Line count: 32
Word count: 259

Translation © by Sharon Krebs