English translations of Sechs Lieder, opus 2

by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916)

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1. Im April  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Im April", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 1, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Senff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du feuchter Frühlingsabend,
Wie hab' ich dich so gern --
Der [Himmel]1 wolkenverhangen,
Nur hier und da ein Stern.

[Wie]2 leiser Liebesodem
Hauchet [so lau]3 die Luft,
Es steigt aus allen [Thalen]4
Ein warmer Veilchenduft.

Ich möcht' ein Lied ersinnen,
Das diesem Abend [gleich]5;
Und kann den Klang nicht finden
So dunkel, mild und weich.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Emanuel Geibel, Neununddreißigste Auflage, Berlin, Verlag von Alexander Duncker, 1855, page 26.

1 Jensen, Reger, Végh: "Himmel ist"
2 Berg: "Ein"
3 omitted by Végh
4 Viardot-García: "Tälern"
5 Végh: "gleicht"

by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. You damp spring evening
Language: English 
 You damp spring evening,
 how much I enjoy you!
 The sky is hung with clouds,
 only here and there a star.
 
 A gentle breath of love
 blows as mild as the breeze,
 and from every valley rises
 a warm spring scent.
 
 I would like to devise a song
 equal to this evening,
 but I cannot find a chord
 as dark, mild and gentle.

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 Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Line count: 12
Word count: 64

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2. Ein Fichtenbaum steht einsam   [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Ein Fichtenbaum steht einsam ", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 2, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Senff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein [Fichtenbaum]1 steht einsam
Im Norden auf kahler Höh';
Ihn schläfert; mit weißer Decke
Umhüllen ihn Eis und Schnee.

Er träumt von einer Palme,
Die fern im Morgenland,
Einsam und [schweigend]2 trauert
Auf brennender Felsenwand.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 137.

1 Biegeleben: "Tannenbaum"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Marx: "schweigsam"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. A spruce-tree stands alone
Language: English 
 A spruce-tree stands alone
 in the north, on the bare heights;
 it slumbers; in a white blanket
 it is surrounded by ice and snow.
 
 It dreams of a palm tree
 which, far-off in the land of the morning,
 grieves, alone and mute,
 on a burning, rocky wall.

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 Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Line count: 8
Word count: 48

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3. Herbstlied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Herbstlied", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Senff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lust'ge Vögel in dem Wald,
Singt, solang es grün,
Ach wer weiss, wie bald,
wie bald Alles muss verblühn! 

Sah ich's doch vom Berge einst
Glänzen überall,
Wusste kaum, warum du weinst,
Fromme Nachtigall. 

Und kaum ging ich über Land,
Frisch durch Lust und Not,
Wandelt' alles, und ich stand
Müd im Abendrot. 

Und die Lüfte wehen kalt,
Übers falbe Grün,
Vöglein,euer Abschied hallt
Könnt' ich mit euch ziehn!

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
3. Autumn Song
Language: English 
Happy woodland birds,
Sing while it is yet green,
Ah, who knows how soon it will be
When everything must wither away!

I saw it once from the mountain
Glittering everywhere,
Little did I know why you wept,
Reverent nightingale.

And scarcely had I begun to cross the land,
Fresh through pleasure and struggles,
When everything changed, and I stood
Exhausted at sunset.

And the winds blow cold,
Across the fading green,
Little bird, your farewell still echoing,
If only I could go with you!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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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Translations of title(s):
"Herbstlied" = "Autumn Song"
"Im Abendroth" = "At Sunset"
"Nachklang" = "Recollection"
"Nachklänge" = "Recollections"
"Nachklänge II" = "Recollections II"



This text was added to the website: 2024-07-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 85

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
4. Stand ein Mädchen an dem Fenster  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Stand ein Mädchen an dem Fenster", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Senff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Stand ein Mädchen an dem Fenster,
Da es draußen Morgen war,
Kämmte sich die langen Haare,
Wusch sich ihre Äuglein klar.
 
Sangen Vöglein aller Arten,
Sonnenschein spielt' vor dem Haus,
Draußen überm schönen Garten
Flogen Wolken weit hinaus.
 
Und sie dehnt' sich in den Morgen,
Als ob sie noch schläfrig sei,
Ach, sie war so voller Sorgen,
Flocht ihr Haar und sang dabei:
 
"Wie ein Vöglein hell und reine,
Ziehet draußen muntre Lieb,
Lockt hinaus zum Sonnenscheine,
Ach, wer da zu Hause blieb'!"

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
4.
Language: English 
A girl stood by the window
For it was morning outside;
She combed her long hair
And washed her clear eyes.

All kinds of birds were singing,
Sunshine played in front of the house,
And outside above the lovely garden
The clouds flew past.

And in this morning, she stretched
As if she were still sleepy;
Ah, she had so many things to do,
Braiding her hair and singing thus:

"Like a bright and pure little bird,
My blithe love will be drawn outside,
Enticed outside by the sunshine;
[For] ah, who could stay home?"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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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Title "Das Mädchen" = "The girl"


This text was added to the website: 2014-10-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 95

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Erster Verlust   [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Erster Verlust ", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 5, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Senff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach wer bringt die schönen Tage,
Jene Tage der ersten Liebe,
Ach wer bringt nur eine Stunde
Jener holden Zeit zurück!

Einsam nähr' ich meine Wunde
Und mit stets erneuter Klage
Traur' ich [um's verlorne]1 Glück.

Ach, wer bringt die schönen Tage,
[Jene holde Zeit zurück!]2

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Confirmed with Goethe's Werke, Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand, Erster Band, Stuttgart und Tübingen, in der J.G.Cottaschen Buchhandlung, 1827, page 63; and with Goethe's Schriften. Achter Band. Leipzig, bey Georg Joachim Göschen, 1789, page 113.

First written 1785 by Goethe for his fragmentary Singspiel "Die ungleichen Hausgenossen" (Arie der Baronesse, Act II), with different stanzas 2 and 3.

1 Nägeli: "um verlornes"
2 Schubert: "Wer jene holde Zeit zurück!"; Medtner, Zelter: "Wer bringt die holde, süße, liebe Zeit zurück?"

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
5. First loss
Language: English 
Ah, who will bring back those beautiful days -
those days of first love?
Ah, who will bring back even just one hour
of that lovely time?

Lonely, I nourish my wound
and with constantly renewed laments,
I mourn my lost happiness.

Ah, who will bring back those beautiful days -
that lovely time?

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 Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 9
Word count: 52

Translation © by Emily Ezust
6. Bitte  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Bitte", op. 2 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Senff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Weil' auf mir, du dunkles Auge,
Übe deine ganze Macht,
Ernste, milde, [träumerische]1,
Unergründlich süße Nacht!

Nimm mit deinem Zauberdunkel
Diese Welt von hinnen mir,
Daß du über meinem Leben
Einsam schwebest für und für.

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Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau's sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [1883], page 11.

1 Bolko von Hochberg: "zauberische"; Sjögren: "träumereiche"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
6. Linger on me, dark eyes
Language: English 
Linger on me, dark eyes -
exert your entire power,
somber, mild, dream-like,
unfathomably sweet night.

With your magic darkness
take from me this world,
so that above my life
you alone will float forever and ever.

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 Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust