English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 1
by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847)
Es fällt ein Stern herunter Aus seiner funkelnden Höh; Das ist der Stern der Liebe, Den ich dort fallen seh. Es fallen vom Apfelbaume, Der [weißen Blätter so viel]1, Es kommen die neckenden [Lüfte]2, Und treiben damit ihr Spiel. Es singt [der]3 Schwan im [Weiher]4, Und rudert auf und ab, Und immer leiser singend, Taucht er ins Flutengrab. Es ist so still und [dunkel]5! Verweht ist Blatt und Blüt', Der Stern ist knisternd zerstoben, Verklungen das Schwanenlied.
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 59
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 163.
1 Backer-Grøndahl, Haine: "Blüten und Blätter viel"; Cui, Gernsheim, Pfitzner: "Blüten und Blätter so viel"; Mangold: "weißen Blätter viel"; Unger: "Blätter und Blüten viel"2 Gernsheim: "Winde"
3 Unger: "ein"
4 Gernsheim: "Wasser"
5 Haine, Mangold: "so dunkel"
A star is tumbling downward From where it sparkled on high, It is the star for lovers, That falling there I spy. The apple tree has been shedding White petals abundantly Along come the breezes so teasing And toying with the debris. The swan sings in the water, And paddles o'er each wave, And singing ever softer, Dives to his watery grave. It is so dark and silent, Swept off are bloom and leaf, The star has fizzled and scattered; And faded, the swan's song, so brief.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by Walter Meyer, (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 Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 59
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 87
Von den Bergen zu den Hügeln,
Niederab das Tal entlang,
Da erklingt es wie von Flügeln,
Da bewegt sichs wie Gesang;
Und dem unbedingten Triebe
Folget Freude, folget Rat,
Und dein Streben, sei's in Liebe!
Und dein Leben sei die Tat.
...
Bleibe nicht am Boden heften,
Frisch gewagt und frisch hinaus!
Kopf und Arm mit heitern Kräften,
Überall sind wir zu Haus;
Wo wir uns der Sonne freuen,
Sind wir jeder Sorgen los,
Daß wir uns in ihr zerstreuen,
Darum ist die Welt so groß.
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Wanderlied", appears in Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre, Book 3, Chapter 1
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From the [mountain]1 to the hills,
and throughout the valley,
something resounds as if on wings,
something is stirring like a song!
And to absolute impulse
joy yields, reason yields;
and let your striving be for love!
And let your life be the deed.
[ ... ]
Do not stay pinned to the floor -
be fresh and daring, and go on your way,
head and arm full of cheerful strength;
everywhere we are at home!
Wherever the sun delights us,
we are free of every care;
that we may scatter within it
is the reason the world is so huge.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 ArchiveFor 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), "Wanderlied", appears in Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre, Book 3, Chapter 1
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)With thanks to Johann Winkler for some helpful explanations.
1 Mendelssohn: "mountains"This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 143
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?
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 23
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View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 129.
1 Zenger: "doch"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 ArchiveFor 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 Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Lyrisches Intermezzo, no. 23
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 96
Läuten kaum die Maienglocken, Leise durch den lauen Wind, Hebt ein Knabe froh erschrocken, Aus dem Grase sich geschwind. Schüttelt in den Blütenflocken, Seine feinen blonden Locken, Schelmisch sinnend wie ein Kind. Und nun wehen Lerchenlieder Und es schlägt die Nachtigall, Von den Bergen rauschend wieder Kommt der kühle Wasserfall. Rings im Walde bunt Gefieder, Frühling, Frühling ist es wieder Und ein Jauchzen überall. Und den Knaben hört man schwirren, Goldne Fäden, zart und lind, Durch die Lüfte künstlich wirren, Und ein süsser Krieg beginnt. Suchen, fliehen, schmachtend irren, Bis sich Alle hold verwirren. O besel'gend Labyrinth!
Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Der Schalk", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Frühling und Liebe
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Hardly do the lilies-of-the-valley ring faintly in the gentle wind, than a boy starts gaily and quickly from the grass. In the blossoms he shakes his fine blond locks, with roguish feeling, like a child. And now the lark songs can be heard, and the nightingale sings; from the mountains roars again the sound of the cool waterfall. Around the forest are bright feathers; It is Spring again and there is rejoicing everywhere. And one hears the boy twanging; golden threads, delicate and gentle, stir the air in a synthetic commotion, and a sweet war begins. There is searching, fleeing, languishing yearning, until everything tangles itself sweetly. O blissful labyrinth!
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 ArchiveFor 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 Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Der Schalk", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Frühling und Liebe
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:"Maienlied" = "May Song"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 110
In den Wipfeln frische Lüfte, Fern melod'scher Quellen Fall Durch die Einsamkeit der Klüfte, Waldeslaut und Vogelschall, Scheuer Träume Spielgenossen, Steigen all' beim Morgenschein Auf des Weinlaubs schwanken Sprossen Dir zum Fenster aus und ein. Und wir nah'n noch halb in Träumen Und wir thun in Klängen kund, Was da draußen in den Bäumen Singt der weite Frühlingsgrund. Regt der Tag erst laut die Schwingen: Sind wir Alle wieder weit -- Aber tief im Herzen klingen Lange nach noch Lust und Leid.
Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Morgenständchen", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Frühling und Liebe
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Confirmed with Gedichte von Joseph, Freiherrn von Eichendorff, Zweite vermehrte und veränderte Auflage, Verlegt von W. Simion in Berlin, 1843, pages 231-232.
In the treetops, fresh breezes; distant, melodious springs rustling through the solitude of the ravine; forest sounds and birdcalls. The playmates of shy dreams all ascend by the morning light on the grapevine's swaying branches in and out of your window and we come near, half in a dream, and we make known in our sounds what, outside among the trees, the wide Spring valley sings. Once the day loudly moves its wings, we are all once again far away; but deep in your heart resound joy and sorrow for a long time afterward.
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 ArchiveFor 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 Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Morgenständchen", appears in Gedichte, in 4. Frühling und Liebe
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht Wandelt das Sternenheer, Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht Die Gondel übers Meer. Die Luft ist weich wie Liebesscherz, Sanft spielt der goldne Schein, Die Cither klingt und zieht dein Herz Mit in die Lust hinein. O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht Wandelt das Sternenheer, Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht Die Gondel übers Meer. Das ist für Liebende die Stund', Liebchen, wie ich und du; So friedlich blaut des Himmels Rund, Es schläft das Meer in Ruh. Und wie es schläft, da sagt der Blick, Was nie die Zunge spricht, Die Lippe zieht sich nicht zurück, Und wehrt dem Kusse nicht. O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht Wandelt das Sternenheer, Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht Die Gondel übers Meer.
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Gondoliera", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 2. Zweites Buch, in Berlin
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Oh, come to me when daylight sets", appears in National Airs, volume I, first published 1818
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Oh come to me, when the legion of stars wanders through the night! Then, in the glory of moonlight, the gondola will gently float with us over the sea! The air is as soft as love's teasing, the golden glow is playing gently. The zither sounds and draws your heart along with it into joy. Oh come to me, when the legion of stars wanders through the night! Then, in the glory of moonlight, the gondola will gently float with us over the sea! [This is the blessed hour of love!]1 My darling, oh come and see! The heavenly vault is glowing so peacefully, the blueness of the sea is sleeping! And as it sleeps, [our] glances speak what [our] lips never dare to say. [Our] eyes do not retreat, our souls do not shrink back. Oh come to me, when the legion of stars wanders through the night! Then, in the glory of moonlight, the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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 Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Gondoliera", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 2. Zweites Buch, in Berlin
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "Oh, come to me when daylight sets", appears in National Airs, volume I, first published 1818
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 Schumann version: "This is the hour of blissful love!"
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-26
Line count: 24
Word count: 165