English translations of Drei kleine Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 9

by Alexander Ritter (1833 - 1896)

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1. Welke Rose  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexander Ritter (1833 - 1896), "Welke Rose", op. 9 (Drei kleine Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In einem Buche blätternd, fand 
Ich eine Rose, welk, zerdrückt,
Und weiß auch nicht mehr, wessen Hand
Sie einst für mich gepflücket.

Ach, mehr und mehr im Abendhauch
Verweht Erinnerung; bald zerstiebt
Mein Erdenlos, dann weiß ich auch
Nicht mehr, wer mich geliebt.

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau, Sämmliche Gedichte, herausgegeben von Anastasius Grün, zweiter Band, Stuttgart und Augsburg, J. G. Cotta Verlag, 1855, page 257.


by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. Withered rose
Language: English 
Leafing through a book, I discovered
A rose, withered, crushed;
And I no longer knew whose hand
Had once picked it for me.

Ah, more and more in the evening breeze
Does Memory drift away; soon
my lot in life will be over, and I will
no longer know who loved me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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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Translation of title "Welke Rose" = "Withered rose"


This text was added to the website: 2015-11-29
Line count: 8
Word count: 52

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Fragen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexander Ritter (1833 - 1896), "Fragen", op. 9 (Drei kleine Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich fragte: Wie haben die Lieder all
In deiner Brust nur, o Lerche, Raum?
Wie trägst du auf deinem braunen Gezweig
Nur all die Blüten, o Apfelbaum?

Wie birgst du in deinem bescheid'nen Kelch,
O [Veilchen, nur alle]1 die Düfte lind?
Sie sprachen: Wie fasset die Liebe all
Dein kleines Herz nur, du Menschenkind?

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Confirmed with Richard v. Volkmann-Leander, Kleine Geschichten und Gedichte, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., 1920, pages 48-49; title from this publication.

1 Schweikert: "Veilchen, alle"

by Richard Volkmann (1830 - 1889), as Richard Leander
2. Questions
Language: English 
I asked: How ever do all the songs
Have room in your breast, oh lark?
How ever do you bear upon your brown branches
All the blossoms, oh apple tree?

How do you harbour in your modest calyx
All the gentle scents, oh violet?
They spoke:  How does your little heart,
Oh human, contain all the love?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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: 

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Translations of titles:
"Fragen" = "Questions"
"Ich fragte: Wie haben die Lieder all --" = "I asked: How do all the songs --"



This text was added to the website: 2024-09-18
Line count: 8
Word count: 57

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Gute Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Alexander Ritter (1833 - 1896), "Gute Nacht", op. 9 (Drei kleine Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1884 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im tiefsten Innern
Ein süß Erinnern
Und einen Gruß
Zum Tagesschluß.

Daß Gottes Güte
Mein Glück behüte
Daß seine Treu'
Stets mit dir sei;

Daß deine Seele
Sich mir vermähle
Auf ewiglich:
Das bete ich.

Auf ihn nur [zähl']1 ich,
Uns Beid' empfehl' ich
Fromm seiner Macht --
Nun, gute Nacht!

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1 Röhmeyer: "bau'"

by Barbara Elisabeth Glück (1814 - 1894), as Betty Paoli
3.
Language: English 
From my deepest core
A sweet reminder
And a greeting
At the end of the day.

That God’s goodness
Will preserve my happiness,
That His trustworthiness
Will always be with you;

That your soul
Be united with mine
For all eternity:
That, I pray.

On Him alone do I depend,
I commend both of us
Devoutly to His might –
Now, good night!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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: 

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This text was added to the website: 2022-06-27
Line count: 16
Word count: 63

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall