English translations of Vier Lieder für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass, opus posth. 100

by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

1. Andenken
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Andenken", op. posth. 100 no. 1 [ SATB quartet ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Bäume grünen überall,
Die Blumen blühen wieder,
Und wieder singt die Nachtigall
Nun ihre alten Lieder.
O glücklich, wer noch singt und lacht,
Dass auch der Frühling sein gedacht!

Froh wollt' ich sein in Wald und Feld
Und mit den Vögeln singen,
Und wie die ganze Frühlingswelt
Nach Lust und Freude ringen.
Was soll mir Blüt' und Nachtigall?
Du fehlst mir, fehlst mir überall.

O liebes Herz, und soll ich dich
Nun nimmer wiedersehen,
So mag der Frühling auch für mich
Mit Blüt' und Sang vergehen.
Was soll der Frühling doch für mich,
Was ist ein Frühling ohne dich!

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by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
1. My springtime
Language: English 
The trees are greening all around,
The flowers are blooming once more,
And again the nightingale sings
Its old songs now.
Oh happy is he who still sings and laughs
Because spring has thought of him as well.

Happy would I be in forest and field
And would sing with the birds
And, like the entire springtime world,
Would strive for pleasure and happiness.
Of what use are blossom and nightingale to me?
I miss you, miss you everywhere.

Oh dear heart, and shall I now
Never see you again,
Then may springtime with blossom
And song also pass away for me.
Of what use is springtime to me?
What is a spring without you!

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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This text was added to the website: 2013-11-15
Line count: 18
Word count: 118

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Lob des Frühlings
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Lob des Frühlings", op. posth. 100 no. 2 [ SATB quartet ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Saatengrün, Veilchenduft, 
Lerchenwirbel, Amselschlag, 
Sonnenregen, linde Luft! 

Wenn ich solche Worte singe, 
Braucht es dann noch großer Dinge, 
Dich zu preisen, Frühlingstag?

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by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. Praise of spring
Language: English 
The first green of the sown wheat, the scent of violets,
The whirling of larks, the singing of blackbirds,
Showers of sunlight, balmy air!

If I sing words such as these,
Are great things still necessary
To praise you, springtime day?

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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This text was added to the website: 2013-09-01
Line count: 6
Word count: 41

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Frühlingslied
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Frühlingslied", op. posth. 100 no. 3 (1843?) [ SATB quartet ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Berg und Thal will ich durchstreifen 
  In der Frühlingstage Pracht,
Wo auf Wiesen und in Wäldern
  Die verjüngte Schöpfung lacht.

In das Wonnemeer der Düfte,
  Das aus allen Blüthen quillt,
Will ich ganz mich untertauchen 
  Bis der Seele Durst gestillt.

Bis ich selber untergehe 
  In der Blüthen Balsamduft,
Und aus dir verjüngt erstehe
  Du geliebte Frühlingsluft.

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by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 - 1874)
3.
Language: English 
I wish to roam through mountain and valley
 In the glory of these spring days,
When upon meadows and in forests
 Rejuvenated creation laughs.

Into the joyous sea of scents
 That wells forth from every blossom,
I wish to completely submerge myself
 Until the thirst of my soul is quenched.

Until I myself am submerged
 In the balsam-scent of the blossoms,
And arise rejuvenated from you,
 You beloved air of spring.

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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English song title (Gaugler): Spring
English song title (Mendelssohn): Spring Song

This text was added to the website: 2013-11-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Im Wald
 (Sung text)
by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Im Wald", op. posth. 100 no. 4 [ SATB quartet ]
    Score: IMSLP [external link]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Wald, du kühlender Bronnen,
wie labst du die lechzende Brust!
Vom sengenden Brande der Sonnen
lädst du zu erfrischender Lust.

Und ruh'n wir beschattet von Zweigen,
das Auge zum Äther gewandt,
so scheint sich der Himmel zu neigen,
kühl weht's wie aus himmlischem Land.

O Wald, du Tempel der Töne,
hoch wölbt sich dein grünendes Dach,
hell klingt in verdoppelter Schöne
Gesang in den Wipfeln noch nach.

Und rührt uns beim Klange der Lieder
des Gottes allmächtiger Hand,
dann säuselt's aus Zweigen hernieder,
wie Träume aus himmlischem Land.

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by (Friedrich Bernhard) Heinrich Weismann (1808 - 1890)
4. In the forest
Language: English 
Oh forest, you cooling well,
How you revive the thirsting breast!
From the parching burning of the sun
You invite us to refreshing joy.

And when we rest, shadowed by branches,
The eye turned toward the ether,
Then heaven appears to incline itself toward us,
A cool breeze comes as if from the heavenly land.

Oh forest, you temple of sounds,
Your green canopy rises loftily.
Brightly, in twofold beauty,
Song still echoes in the treetops.

And if as we hear the sound of the songs
We are touched by God's almighty hand,
Then from the branches a murmuring drifts down to us
Like dreams from the heavenly land.

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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English poem title: Joy of the Forest
English song title: In the forest

This text was added to the website: 2013-11-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 109

Translation © by Sharon Krebs