English translations of Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4), opus 96

by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

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1. Nachtlied
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Nachtlied", op. 96 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 1 (1850), published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Über allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh',
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.

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Note: in many older editions, the spelling of the capitalized word "über" becomes "Ueber", but this is often due to the printing process and not to rules of orthography, since the lower-case version is not "ueber", so we use "Über".

See also J.D. Falk's poem Unter allen Wipfeln ist Ruh.

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
1. Over all the peaks it is peaceful
Language: English 
Over all the peaks
it is peaceful,
in all the treetops
you feel
hardly a breath of wind;
the little birds are silent in the forest...
only wait - soon
you will rest as well.

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: 8
Word count: 34

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Schneeglöckchen
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Schneeglöckchen", op. 96 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 2 (1850), published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Sonne sah die Erde an,
Es ging ein milder Wind,
Und plötzlich stand Schneeglöckchen da,
Das fremde blasse Kind.

Und plötzlich brach mit Pomp und Braus
Der alte Winter auf,
Die Wolken eilten pfeilgeschwind
Zum dunklen Nord hinauf.

Eisscholle lief, Schneeflocke schmolz,
Die Stürme heulten drein,
Schneeglöckchen stand gesenkten Haupts
In dem Gewühl allein.

Ei komm! Du weißes Schwesterlein,
Wie lange willst du stehn?
Der Winter ruft, das Reich ist aus,
Wir müssen nach Hause gehn!

Und was nur rings auf Erden trägt
Die weiße Liverei,
Das schürze sich, das tummle sich
Zur Abfahrt schnell herbei!

Schneeglöckchen sah sich bebend an
Und dachte halb im Traum:
»Was soll um Winters Liverei
Der grüne, grüne Saum?

Wob ihn wohl um das weiße Kleid
Des Winters rauhe Hand?
Wo komm' ich her? wo geh' ich hin?
Wo ist mein Vaterland?«

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Snowdrop
Language: English 
The sun looked [down] upon the earth,
A mild breeze was blowing,
And suddenly a snowdrop appeared,
The strange, pale child.
 
And suddenly with pomp and a great show
Old winter decamped,
As swiftly as arrows the clouds scudded off
Toward the dark north.
 
The ice floe raced, the snowflake melted,
The storms howled,
Snowdrop stood with a bowed head
All alone in the tumult.
 
Come now! You white little sister,
How long do you propose to stand?
Winter proclaims that his reign is over;
We must go home!
 
And everything on earth that wears
The white livery
Must gird itself, must make haste
To appear quickly for the departure!
 
The snowdrop looked at herself with trembling
And, half in a dream, thought:
"What is this green, green border
Upon winter's livery?
 
Was it woven into my white dress
By the rough hand of winter?
Whence do I come? Whither do I go?
Where is my homeland?"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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: 2015-03-04
Line count: 28
Word count: 157

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Ihre Stimme
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Ihre Stimme", op. 96 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 3 (1850), published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Laß tief in dir mich lesen,
Verhehl' auch dies mir nicht,
Was für ein Zauberwesen
Aus deiner Stimme spricht!

So viele Worte dringen
Ans Ohr uns ohne Plan,
Und während sie verklingen,
Ist alles abgetan!

Doch drängt auch nur von ferne
Dein Ton zu mir sich her,
Belausch' ich ihn so gerne,
Vergess' ich ihn so schwer.

Ich bebe dann, entglimme
Von allzu rascher Glut:
Mein Herz und deine Stimme
Verstehn sich gar zu gut!

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by August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796 - 1835)
3.
Language: English 
Let me read deep within you -
Do not conceal this from me either -
What kind of a magical spirit
Speaks through your voice.

So many words assail
Our ears without design
And when they have died away,
Nothing remains!

But if even from a distance
The sound of your voice finds its way to me,
I listen to it so gladly,
I find it so difficult to forget.

I tremble then, come alight
With all too rapid ardour;
My heart and your voice
Understand each other too well!

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.
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Translated titles:
"Mein Herz und deine Stimme" = "My heart and your voice"
"An die Geliebte" = "To the beloved"
"Die Stimme der Geliebten" = "The voice of the beloved"
"Ihre Stimme"= "Her voice"


This text was added to the website: 2008-09-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Gesungen!
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Gesungen!", op. 96 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 4 (1850), published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hört ihr im Laube des Regens starke Schläge?
Höret ihr brechen die Aest' im Sturmgefege?
Hört ihr doch drinnen der Vöglein süsse Kehlen
Preisend der Liebe des Herrn sich anempfehlen!
 
Seht ihr im Lande der Zwietracht Fackel lodern?
Hört ihr den Frevel das Recht zum Kampfe fodern?
Drum mit des Herzens Gewalt friedvoller Lieder
Zaubert das wilde Geschrei des Wahnsinns nieder!

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Confirmed with: Welt und Herz. Dichtungen von Wilfried von der Neun, zweite Auflage, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1856, page 9.


by Friedrich Wilhelm Traugott Schöpff (1826 - 1916), as Wilfried von der Neun
4. Sung!
Language: English 
Do you hear the rain's powerful blows in the foliage?
Do you hear the branches breaking in the sweeping storm?
Yet you also hear in [the tree] the sweet singing of the little birds
Entrusting themselves with praise to the love of the Lord!
 
Do you see the torches of dissension flaming in the land?
Do you hear Iniquity summon Right to battle?
Therefore with the power of your heart's peaceful songs
Magically subdue the wild cries of insanity!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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: 2015-04-10
Line count: 8
Word count: 79

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Himmel und Erde
 (Sung text)
by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Himmel und Erde", op. 96 (Lieder und Gesänge für Singstimme und Klavier (Heft 4)) no. 5 (1850), published 1851 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Whistling
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie der Bäume kühne Wipfel
Zu des Lichtes Höhen streben!
Wie der Berge greise Gipfel
In des Himmels Wolken schweben!

Wie im Mai der Wiesen Blühen
Mit des Äthers Blau verschwimmet!
Wie der Wälder herbstlich Glühen
In des Frührots Licht verglimmet!

O so seid ihr denn Verwandte,
Himmel du und Mutter Erde!
Freudig trag ich irdsche Bande,
Da ich dein, O Himmel, werde!

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by Friedrich Wilhelm Traugott Schöpff (1826 - 1916), as Wilfried von der Neun
5. Heaven and Earth
Language: English 
As the bold treetops strive upward
Towards the light on high,
As the ancient peaks of the mountains
Soar within the clouds of the heavens,
 
As in May the flowers of the meadow
Seem to dissolve with the blue of the ether,
As the autumnal glow of the forests
Smoulders in the light of dawn,
 
Oh, thus you are related to each other,
Heaven, you, and mother earth.
I gladly bear my earthly fetters
Since [I know] that I shall someday belong to you, oh Heaven.

Text Authorship:

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

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This text was added to the website: 2015-04-10
Line count: 12
Word count: 86

Translation © by Sharon Krebs