English translations of Zwölf Lieder [note: this is Felix Mendelssohn's opus, in which three songs were composed by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel], opus 9

by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) and Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847)

1. Sehnsucht
 (Sung text)
misattributed to Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) and by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Sehnsucht", op. 9 (Zwölf Lieder [note: this is Felix Mendelssohn's opus, in which three songs were composed by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel]) no. 7 [ voice and piano ], note: this was published in Felix Mendelssohn's opus
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Fern und ferner schallt der Reigen.
Wohl mir, um mich her ist Schweigen
    Auf der Flur.
Zu dem vollen Herzen nur
Will nicht Ruh' sich neigen.

Horch! die Nacht schwebt durch die Räume,
Ihr Gewand durchrauscht die Bäume
    Lispelnd leis'.
Ach! so schweifen liebeheiß
Meine Wünsch' und Träume.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Memorabilien der Zeit. Denkblätter der Liebe und Freundschaft. Dritte Sammlung, München, Druck und Verlag von Georg Franz, 1850, page 149, under the heading "October", entry number 5. No poet indicated.


possibly by Johann Gustav Droysen (1808 - 1884)
1. Longing
Language: English 
The sounds of the dance fade farther and farther away. 
It is well for me that around me there is silence 
on the meadow. 
Only to my full heart 
peace does not want to come.

Listen!  Night is wafting through the spaces. 
[Night's] garments rustle through the trees, 
whispering softly. 
Ah, that is exactly how my wishes and dreams,
Burning with love, roam about.

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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2008-06-25
Line count: 10
Word count: 64

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Verlust
 (Sung text)
misattributed to Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) and by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Verlust", alternate title: "Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen", op. 9 (Zwölf Lieder [note: this is Felix Mendelssohn's opus, in which three songs were composed by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel]) no. 10, H-U 213 (1827) [ voice and piano ], note: this was published by Felix Mendelssohn in his opus 9
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und wüßten's die Blumen, die kleinen,
Wie tief verwundet mein Herz,
Sie würden mit mir weinen,
Zu heilen meinen Schmerz.

Und wüßten's die Nachtigallen,
Wie ich so traurig und krank,
Sie ließen fröhlich erschallen
Erquickenden Gesang.

Und wüßten sie mein Wehe,
Die goldnen Sternelein,
Sie kämen aus ihrer Höhe,
Und sprächen Trost mir ein.

Die alle können's nicht wissen,
Nur einer kennt meinen Schmerz;
Er hat ja selbst zerrissen,
Zerrissen mir das Herz.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Note: Christian Jost's setting begins "Zerrissen mir das Herz" (the last line) and then follows the rest of the text.

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
Language: English 
And if the blooms - the small ones - knew
How deeply wounded is my heart,
They would weep with me
To heal my pain.

And if the nightingales knew
How sad and ill I am,
They would let forth merrily
A refreshing song.

And if they knew my woe -
The little golden stars -
They would come down from their heights
And speak their consolation to me.

But all of them could not know this,
Only one knows my pain;
She herself has indeed torn,
Torn my heart in two.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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:

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: 88

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. Die Nonne
 (Sung text)
misattributed to Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) and by Fanny Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Die Nonne", op. 9 (Zwölf Lieder [note: this is Felix Mendelssohn's opus, in which three songs were composed by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel]) no. 12, H-U 46 [ voice and piano ], note: this was first published in Felix Mendelssohn's opus
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im stillen Klostergarten 
Eine bleiche Jungfrau ging;
Der Mond beschien sie trübe,
An ihrer Wimper hing 
Die Träne zarter Liebe.

"O wohl mir, daß gestorben 
Der treue Buhle mein!
Ich darf ihn wieder lieben:
Er wird ein Engel sein, 
Und Engel darf ich lieben."

Sie trat mit zagem Schritte 
Wohl zum Mariabild;
Es stand im lichten Scheine,
Es sah so muttermild
Herunter auf die Reine.

Sie sank zu seinen Füßen, 
Sah auf mit Himmelsruh',
Bis ihre Augenlider
Im Tode fielen zu:
Ihr Schleier wallte nieder.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with: Uhlands Werke, Erster Teil, Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year], pages 111-112.

Note: in stanza 4, line 3, word 3, Hinrichs has the typo "Augenlieder" in the score.

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. The nun
Language: English 
In the silent convent garden, a pale maiden wandered.
The moon shone somberly upon her.
Upon her eyelash hung
The tear of a tender love.
 
"O how happy I am that my true love is dead!
I may love him again:
For he shall be an angel,
And I may love angels." 

She walked with timid steps to the image of the virgin Mary.
It stood in the bright light,
And looked down so motherly and gently
Upon the pure one. 

She sank down to her feet and looked up in heavenly peace,
Until her eyelids
Fell shut in death.
Her veil floated downward.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Kelly Dean Hansen, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-10-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 104

Translation © by Kelly Dean Hansen