English translations of Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung , opus 85

  Und die [Sonne machte]1 den weiten [Ritt]2
[Um]3 die Welt,
Und die Sternlein sprachen: wir reisen mit 
[Um]3 die Welt;
Und die Sonne sie schalt sie: ihr bleibt zu Haus,
Denn ich brenn' euch die goldnen Äuglein aus
Bei dem feurigen Ritt um die Welt.

  Und die Sternlein gingen zum lieben Mond
In der Nacht,
Und sie sprachen: du, der auf Wolken thront 
In der Nacht,
Laß uns [wandeln]4 mit dir, denn dein milder Schein
Er verbrennet uns nimmer die Äugelein.
Und er nahm sie, Gesellen der Nacht.
 
  Nun willkommen, Sternlein und lieber Mond, 
In der Nacht!
Ihr verstehet, was still in dem Herzen wohnt 
In der Nacht.
Kommt und zündet die himmlischen Lichter an,
Daß ich lustig mitschwärmen und [spielen]5 kann
In den freundlichen Spielen der Nacht.

  And the [sun undertook]1 its long [ride]2
Circling the earth,
And the little stars said: we shall come with you
[Around the earth]3;
And the sun scolded them: you are staying home,
For I would burn out your little golden eyes
On my fiery ride circling the earth.

  And the little stars went to the dear moon
In the night,
And they said: you, who sits enthroned upon clouds
In the night,
Let us [travel]4 with you, for your gentle shining
Would never burn out our little eyes,
And he took them along, comrades of the night.

  Welcome now, little stars and dear moon,
In the night!
You understand that which lives silently in my heart
In the night.
Come and set the heavenly lights aglow,
So that I may rhapsodize and [play]5 along
In the amiable games of the night.

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Ernst Moritz Arndt (1769 - 1860), "Ballade", written 1809, first published 1818
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Translations of title(s):
"Ballade" = "Ballad"
"Die Sterne der Nacht" = "The stars of the night"
"Die Sternlein" = "The little stars"
"Lied von den Sternlein" = "Song about the little stars"
"Sonne, Mond und Sterne" = "Sun, moon, and stars"
"Und die Sonne machte den weiten Ritt " = "And the sun undertook its long ride"
"Vom Mond und den Sternlein" = "About the moon and the little stars"
"Zur Nacht" = "At night"

¹ a later version of the poem titled "Die Sternlein" (1823) has "sun, it undertook" (used by Attenhofer, Banck, and Böie, according to the incipits in Hofmeister, and by Ochs); Blumenthal: "sun undertakes"; Blumner: "sun, it undertook " (Musikalien-Catalog von Heinrichshofen's Verlag)
² Attenhofer: "journey"; further changes may exist not noted.
³ Ochs: "Through the world"
⁴ Blumenthal: "wander"
⁵ Ochs: "sing"

This text was added to the website: 2021-07-11
Line count: 21
Word count: 147

Stell auf den Tisch die duftenden Reseden,
  Die letzten roten Astern trag herbei,
Und laß uns wieder von der Liebe reden,
    Wie einst im Mai.

Gib mir die Hand, daß ich sie heimlich drücke
  Und wenn man's sieht, mir ist es einerlei,
Gib mir nur einen deiner süßen Blicke,
    Wie einst im Mai.

Es blüht und funkelt heut auf jedem Grabe,
  Ein Tag im Jahre ist den Toten frei,
Komm an mein Herz, daß ich dich wieder habe,
    Wie einst im Mai.

Place on the table the fragrant mignonettes,
Bring inside the last red asters,
and let us speak again of love,
as once we did in May.

Give me your hand, so that I can press it secretly;
and if someone sees us, it's all the same to me.
Just give me your sweet gaze,
as once you did in May.

Flowers adorn today each grave, sending off their fragrances;
one day in the year is free for the dead.
Come close to my heart, so that I can have you again,
as once I did in May.

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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812 - 1864), "Allerseelen", appears in Die letzten Blätter
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Translation of title "Allerseelen" = "All Souls' Day"

Translator's note for stanza 3, line 2: i.e., the holiday http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls%27_Day

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 97

Sie hat [den ganzen Tag]1 getobt
  Als wie in Zorn und Pein,
Nun bettet sich, nun glättet sich
  Die See und schlummert ein.

Und [drüber]2 zittert der Abendwind,
  Ein mildes, heiliges Wehn,
Das ist der Atem Gottes,
  Der schwebet ob den See'n.

Es küßt der Herr auf Lockenhaupt
  Die schlummernde See gelind
Und spricht mit säuselndem Segen:
  Schlaf' ruhig, wildes Kind!

The sea has raged the entire day
As if in fury and pain,
But now coming to rest, calming itself
And falling asleep.

And above it eddies the evening wind,
A peaceful, sacred breeze,
It is the breath of God,
That wafts across the oceans.

The Lord kisses upon its curly head,
Gently, the slumbering sea
And speaks with a murmured blessing:
Sleep peacefully, my wild child!

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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Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Moritz, Graf von Strachwitz (1822 - 1847), "Meeresabend", appears in Neue Gedichte, in 3. Nordland
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This text was added to the website: 2022-08-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 67

[Beginne]1 deine heilge Feier,
erleuchte dich mit Sternenpracht,
o hülle mich in deine Schleier,
du linde Nacht!

Das wilde Herz, das ziellos irrte,
geleite du zur selgen Ruh',
und was der laute Tag verwirrte,
beschwichtge du!

O mindre du der Sehnsucht Fülle,
o lindre du der Sehnsucht Pein,
o führ' in meines Busens Stille
den Himmel ein!

Begin your holy celebration,
illuminate yourself with the splendour of the stars,
oh, envelop me in your veils,
you gentle night! 

My wild heart, that strayed about aimlessly,
may you guide it to blessed peace,
and what the loud day confounded,
may you appease.

Oh diminish the plenitude of yearning,
oh assuage the pain of yearning,
oh bring Heaven into 
the silence of my bosom!

Text Authorship:

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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.
  Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Michael Bernays (1834 - 1897), "An die Nacht"
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This text was added to the website: 2022-07-13
Line count: 12
Word count: 65

  Wie herrlich leuchtet
Mir die Natur!
Wie glänzt die Sonne!
Wie lacht die Flur!

  Es dringen [Blühten]1
Aus jedem Zweig
Und tausend Stimmen
Aus dem Gesträuch,

  Und Freud und Wonne
Aus jeder Brust.
O Erd', o Sonne!
O Glück, o Lust!

  O [Lieb']2, o Liebe! 
So golden schön,
Wie Morgenwolken
Auf jenen Höhn!

  Du segnest herrlich
Das frische Feld,
Im Blütendampfe
Die [volle]3 Welt.

  O [Mädchen, Mädchen]4, 
Wie lieb ich dich!
Wie [blickt]5 dein Auge,
Wie liebst du mich!

  So liebt die Lerche
Gesang und Luft,
Und Morgenblumen
Den Himmelsduft.

  Wie ich dich liebe
Mit [warmem]6 Blut,
Die du mir Jugend
Und [Freud]7 und Mut

  [Zu]8 neuen Liedern
Und Tänzen gibst.
Sey ewig glücklich,
Wie du mich liebst!

How marvellously 
does Nature shine for me!
How the sun gleams!
How the meadow laughs!

Blossoms burst forth 
From every branch
And a thousand voices
From the bushes!

And joy and bliss 
From every breast;
O Earth, o Sun, 
o Happiness, o Joy!

O love, o darling!
So golden fair,
As morning clouds
On yonder heights!

You bless marvellously
The fresh field,
In a mist of blossoms, 
The full world.

O maiden, maiden,
How I love you!
O how you gaze at me,
O how you love me!

The lark loves
Song and Breeze,
And morning flowers,
The dew of heaven,

As I love you 
With blood on fire,
You who give me youth
And joy and cheer

For new songs 
And new dances.
Be forever happy
In loving me so!

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.
  licenses@email.lieder.example.net
  
  

Based on:

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Maylied", written 1771
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 131