English translations of Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 20

by Max Lippold (1845 - 1910)

1. Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Lippold (1845 - 1910), "Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken", op. 20 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken,
Das wirbt so süß, das wirbt so laut,
Beim [Duft]1 der [Blumenglocken]2
Um die geliebte Braut.

Und aus dem blauen Flieder
Singt, ohne Rast und Ruh'
Millionen Liebeslieder
Die holde Braut ihm zu. --

Ich hör' ein leises Klagen,
So liebesbang, so [seelenvoll]3 --
Was mag die Stimme fragen,
Die in dem Wind verscholl?

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Confirmed with Anthologie aus den Gedichten von Adolf Böttger, Hildburghausen: Druck vom Bibliographischen Institute, New York: Herrmann J. Meyer, [1870], pages 13-14.

1 Pfitzner: "Klang"
2 Tinel: "Morgenglocken"
3 Pfitzner: "sehnsuchtsvoll"

by Adolf Böttger (1815 - 1870)
1.
Language: English 
I hear a little bird singing enticingly,
It woos so sweetly, it woos so loudly,
By the [scent]1 of the flowers' bells
[It woos] the beloved bride.

And from out the blue lilac,
Without pause or rest
The lovely bride sings
Millions of love songs back to him.

I hear a quiet lamenting,
So full of the anxiety of love, so [soulful]2,
What might the voice be asking,
[The voice] that died away in the wind?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2013 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:
"Ich hör' ein Vöglein" = "I hear a little bird"
"Ich hör' ein Vöglein locken" = "I hear a little bird singing enticingly"
"Waldessand" = "Forest sands"

1 Pfitzner: "ringing"
2 Pfitzner: "full of longing"


This text was added to the website: 2013-07-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 79

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Frage  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Lippold (1845 - 1910), "Frage", op. 20 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ist es wahr? Ist es wahr?
Daß du stets dort in dem Laubgang,
An der Weinwand meiner harrst?
Und den Mondschein und die Sternlein
Auch nach mir befragst?

Ist es wahr? Sprich!
Was ich fühle, das begreift nur,
Die es mit fühlt,
Und die treu mir ewig,
Treu mir ewig, ewig bleibt.

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Note: The first edition of opus 9 attributed the text to "H. Voss", but Sebastian Hensel (Fanny's son) later wrote that Felix Mendelssohn wrote both music and words on June 6, 1827. Source : Mendelssohn - 24 Songs : Medium Voice, ed. John Glenn Paton, Alfred Music Publishing, 1992.

sometimes misattributed to Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826) and by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
2. Question
Language: English 
Is it true? Is it true
that over there in the leafy walkway, you always
wait for me by the vine-draped wall?
And that with the moonlight and the little stars
you consult about me also?

Is it true? Speak!
What I feel, only she grasps --
she who feels with me
and stays ever faithful to me,
eternally faithful.

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: 10
Word count: 59

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Bei der Wiege  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Lippold (1845 - 1910), "Bei der Wiege", op. 20 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schlummre! Schlummre und träume von kommender Zeit,
Die sich dir bald muß entfalten,
Träume, mein Kind, von Freud' und Leid,
Träume von lieben Gestalten!
Mögen auch viele noch kommen und gehen,
Müssen dir neue doch wieder erstehen,
Bleibe nur fein geduldig!

Schlummre und träume von Frühlingsgewalt,
Schau' all' das Blühen und Werden,
Horch, wie im Hain der Vogelsang schallt,
Liebe im Himmel, auf Erden!
Heut' zieht's vorüber und kann dich nicht kümmern,
Doch wird dein Frühling auch blühn und schimmern,
Bleibe nur fein geduldig! Schlummre!

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by Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)
3. Beside the cradle
Language: English 
Sleep! Sleep and dream of the future
That must soon unfold for you;
Dream, my child, of joy and pain,
Dream of lovely forms!
May many yet come and go,
But new ones must arise for you
If you are only patient!

Sleep! Sleep and dream of spring's power,
Watch all the blossoming and becoming,
Hark, how the songs of birds resound in the grove,
Love is in heaven, [and] on Earth!
Today passes by and cannot trouble you,
But your spring will also blossom and glimmer,
If you are only patient!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-01-02
Line count: 14
Word count: 92

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Scheidend  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Lippold (1845 - 1910), "Scheidend", op. 20 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie so gelinde die Flut bewegt!
Wie sie so ruhig den Nachen trägt!
Fern liegt das Leben, das Jugendland!
Fern, fern liegt der Schmerz, der dort mich band,
Sanft tragt mich, Fluten, zum fernen Land!

Droben der Sterne stiller Ort,
Unten der Strom fließt fort und fort.
Wohl warst du reich, mein Jugendland! 
Wohl, wohl war es süß, was dort mich band,
Sanft tragt mich, Fluten, zum fernen Land!

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possibly by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884) and sometimes misattributed to Johann Heinrich Voss (1751 - 1826)
4. Parting
Language: English 
How very gently the waterway moves!
How quietly it carries the vessel!
In the distance lies life, the land of youth!
Far, far away lies the pain that held me there,
Gently carry me, floods, to that distant land!

Above, the stars silent realm,
Beneath, the river flowing on and on.
Indeed you were rich, land of my youth!
Truly, truly it was sweet, that which bound me there,
Gently carry me, floods, to that distant land!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2011-05-02
Line count: 10
Word count: 77

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall