English translations of Fünf Lieder für gemischten Chor a capella, opus 78

by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890)

1. Liebesfrühling  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Liebesfrühling", op. 78 no. 1, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Stoll
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Wenn die Knospen alle springen,
Und die Lüfte wehen lau;
Wenn die Vögel wieder singen
Unterm Himmel klar und blau:
  Voller Sehnsucht möchtest wiegen
Du mit ihnen dich, mein Herz,
Über Wald und Ströme fliegen,
Immer höher, himmelwärts!

  Aber ist dir aufgegangen
Liebesfrühlings Zauberlicht,
Ist's, als ob die Engel sangen:
  Bleib nur drunten, komme nicht!
  Menschenkind, was mag's dir taugen,
Mitzufliegen ohne Ruh?
Schauest in der Liebsten Augen
Ja den schönsten Himmel du!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 159-160.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
1. Spring Love
Language: English 
When the buds all start their springing,
And so mildly floats the air,
When the birds again are singing
Under skies so blue and fair,
Then my heart, athirst and sighing, 
Cradled with them would, in love,
Over woods and streams go flying,
To the heavens, up above!

Yet consider as you’re winging
T’ward the springtime’s magic light,
As though angels to you singing:
Stay below there, cease your flight!
Child of mankind, whence your feeling
Without rest with us to fly?
For the heaven most appealing
Is within your darling’s eye!

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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Subtitle: "When the buds all start their springing"


This text was added to the website: 2023-01-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 92

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Erste Liebe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "Erste Liebe", op. 78 no. 2, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Stoll
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  O wenn in deinem Herzen
Die erste Lieb' erwacht,
So hold, wie früh im Merzen
Ein scheues Veilchen lacht:
  Ist süßer deine Wonne,
Ist süßer deine Qual?
Ach, nie mehr scheint die Sonne
Dir mit demselben Strahl!

  O halt im tiefsten Innern
Verwahrt dein holdes Glück,
Denn nur noch im Erinnern
Kehrt's wie im Traum zurück.
  Wohl blühen [auf]1 im Märzen
Die Veilchen stets aufs neu,
Doch ein Mal nur im Herzen
Die erste Lieb' und Treu!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 223-224.

1 Randhartinger: "auch"

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
2. First love
Language: English 
  Oh, when within your heart
First love has awakened,
As lovely as a shy violet smiles
Early in March:
  Is your bliss sweeter,
Is your agony sweeter?
Ah, the sun shall nevermore shine
For you in the same way!

  Oh, hold in safekeeping, deep within,
Your lovely happiness,
For only in memory
Shall it return, as in a dream.
  In March, to be sure, there shall blossom
The violets ever anew,
But in your heart there blooms only once
The first love and faithfulness!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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: 2026-06-01
Line count: 16
Word count: 86

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. So leicht ist Liebe  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "So leicht ist Liebe", op. 78 no. 3, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Stoll
Language: German (Deutsch) 
So leicht ist Liebe
Und wiegt so schwer,
Und ist sie verloren,
Wer bringt sie her?

Ein winzig Wörtlein! --
Schon ist's zu spät;
Verflogen ihr Schimmer,
Ihr Duft verweht!

In's Meer versunken
Das holde Glück!
Der Stern entschwunden,
Nie kehrt er zurück!

So leicht ist Liebe
Und wiegt so schwer,
Und ist sie verloren,
Wer bringt sie her?

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 225-226.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
3. Love is so light
Language: English 
Love is so light
And weighs so much,
And if it is lost
Who can bring it back?

A tiny little word! --
And it is already too late;
Love’s shimmer has dissipated,
Its scent blown away!

Sunk into the sea
Is the lovely happiness!
The star has vanished,
Never to return!

Love is so light
And weighs so much,
And if it is lost
Who can bring it back?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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: 2026-06-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 69

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. O Liebe, schönste Blume  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "O Liebe, schönste Blume", op. 78 no. 4, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Stoll
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  O Liebe, schönste Blume,
Wie keine mir gefällt;
Aus Gottes Heiligthume
Verpflanzt in diese Welt!
  Viel tausend Blumen blühen
Im Thal und auf den Höhn;
Doch keine sah ich glühen 
Wie dich so schön, so schön!

  Und, ach! wie bald verwehen
Sie all' in kurzer Zeit;
Du aber mußt bestehen,
Und blühst in Ewigkeit!
  O Liebe, schönste Blume!
Wer dich gefunden hat, 
Der wird, von deinem Ruhme 
Zu singen, nimmer satt!

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Confirmed with Deutsche Dichter-Gaben: eine Sammlung bisher ungedruckter Gedichte der namhaftesten deutschen Dichter, Leipzig: Duncker & Humblot, 1868, pages 33 - 34.

Also confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 214-215.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
4. Oh love, most beautiful flower!
Language: English 
  Oh love, most beautiful flower,
None pleases me more;
Transplanted into this world
From God's sanctuary!
  Many thousands of flowers bloom
In the valley and upon the heights;
But I saw none of them glowing
As beautifully, as beautifully as you!

  And ah! how soon they all
Perish in a short while;
But you must last
And bloom for eternity!
  Oh love, most beautiful flower,
Those who have found you
Shall never grow weary 
To sing of your glory!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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: 2026-05-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 80

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. O, ist's dieselbe Liebe nicht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Victor Ernst Nessler (1841 - 1890), "O, ist's dieselbe Liebe nicht", op. 78 no. 5, published 1875 [ mixed chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Stoll
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O ist's dieselbe Liebe nicht
Bis heut' noch immerdar,
Verklärend Herz und Angesicht
Wie einst vor manchem Jahr!

Sie machten wohl das Herz dir schwer
Und [sagten's]1 frank und frei:
Ach, bist du glücklich noch so sehr,
Bald ist der Traum vorbei.

Ob anders nun die Flamme loht,
Mein Lieb', erschrecke nicht!
Doch loht und glüht sie bis zum Tod,
Und stets mit reinerm Licht.

Und ob auch mancher Traum entschwand,
Schau freudig nur zurück:
Nur fester ward der Herzen Band,
Nur größer unser Glück.

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 207-208.

1 Randhartinger: "sagten"

by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
5. Oh, is it not the same love?
Language: English 
Oh, is it not the same love
Still and evermore until today,
Transfiguring heart and visage
As once many years ago!

Others likely made your heart heavy
And said it frankly and freely:
Ah, though you are ever so happy,
The dream shall soon be over.

Though the flame burns differently now,
My love, do not be startled!
It nevertheless blazes and burns until our death,
And always with a purer light.

And though many a dream may have vanished,
Only look back happily:
The bond between our hearts only grew firmer,
Our happiness only the greater.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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: 2026-05-09
Line count: 16
Word count: 98

Translation © by Sharon Krebs