English translations of Drei Lieder für gemischte Stimmen, opus 13

by Franz Joseph Schütky (1817 - 1893)

1. Lied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Joseph Schütky (1817 - 1893), "Lied", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für gemischte Stimmen) no. 1, published 1877 [ mixed chorus ], Stuttgart: Ebner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vertraue dich dem Licht der [Sterne]1,
  Beschleicht dein Herz ein bittres Weh,
Sie sind dir nah' in [weiter]2 Ferne,
  Wenn Menschen fern in nächster Näh';
Und hast du Thränen noch, so weine,
  O, weine satt dich ungesehn,
Doch vor dem [Aug']3 der Menschen scheine,
  Als wär' dir nie ein Leid geschehn!

Verdammt die Welt dich in Verblendung,
  So such' auf stillem Waldespfad
Dir neuen Muth für deine Sendung,
  Für starke Treu' und freie That;
Um vor dir selber zu bestehen,
  Trägst du den Sieger in der Brust,
Doch nicht die Menschen laß es sehen,
  Wie schweren Kampf du kämpfen mußt.

Ist dir ein schönes Werk gelungen,
  So sei's zu [neuem]4 dir ein Ruf,
Hast du ein treues Herz errungen,
  So [denke,]5 daß es Gott dir schuf;
Wenn deine süß entzückte Seele
  Ganz voll von heil'ger Freude ist,
O, nicht den Neid der Menschen wähle
  Zum Zeugen, daß du glücklich bist!

Verachte kühn der Selbstsucht Streben,
  Wie oft sie dir Verfolgung schwur;
Vor keinem Throne steh' mit Beben,
  Furcht hegt ein bös Gewissen nur.
Demüthig wirf in nächt'ger Stille
  Vor deinem Gott dich auf die Knie'
Und bete: "Es gescheh' dein Wille!"
  Doch vor den Menscheu beug' dich nie.

Und wenn dir Gottes Rathschluß sendet
  Der schwersten Prüfung höchste Pein,
Dann hast du's, [ganz ihm]6 zugewendet,
  Mit ihm zu thun und dir allein;
Davon laß nie die Lippen sprechen,
  Ob dir das Herz auch brechen will!
Laß es in tausend Stücke brechen,
  Doch vor den Menschen schweige still!

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Confirmed with Schau um dich und Schau in dich. Dichtungen von Julius Hammer, Zweite Auflage, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1853, page 94-95.

1 van der Weg: "Stern' "
2 Lang: "später" (but only in the published version; both 1870 manuscripts have "weiter")
3 van der Weg: "Auge"
4 Lang: "neuen" (but only in the published version; both 1870 manuscripts have "neuem")
5 Lang: "danke" (amibiguous in 1861 and the two 1870 manuscripts)
6 Lang: "ihm ganz" (but only in the 1870 version)

by (Friedrich) Julius Hammer (1810 - 1862)
1. Remain silent!
Language: English 
Entrust yourself to the light of the stars
  If your heart is overcome by a bitter pain!
They are close to you in the far distance,
  When people right beside you are [actually] far away.
And if you still have tears,
  Cry yourself out unseen!
But before the eyes of your fellow man,
  Be as if no pain had ever touched you!

If, in blindness, the world damns you,
  Then seek on quiet forest paths
New courage for your mission,
  For strong faithfulness and free deeds;
In your breast you carry the victorious one
  Who enables you to remain true in your own eyes,
But never let mankind see
  How hard the battle that you must fight.

If you have succeeded at a fine undertaking,
  Let it inspire you to [a new work]1!
If you have gained a faithful beloved,
  [Recall that God created her/him for you]2.
If your sweetly enraptured soul
  Is completely full of holy joy,
Oh do not choose the jealousy of your fellow man
  As a witness of your happiness!

Boldly disdain the striving of selfishness,
  No matter how often it swore to beset you;
Stand before no throne with trembling,
  Fear is harboured only by a bad conscience.
Humbly in the quiet of night throw yourself
  On your knees before your God
And pray:  "May Thy will be done!"
  But never bow down before men.

And if God's will sends you
  The highest pain of the hardest trial,
Then you must turn completely to Him,
  And let it be between Him and you alone!
Do not ever let your lips speak of it,
  Even if your heart wants to break!
Let it break into a thousand pieces,
  But be silent before mankind!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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Translations of title(s):
"Blick' nach oben" = "Look upward"
"Lied " = "Song"
"Schweige still!" = "Remain silent!"
"Vertraue dich dem Licht der Stern' " = " Entrust yourself to the light of the stars "
"Vertraue dich dem Licht der Sterne" = "Entrust yourself to the light of the stars"
"Vor den Menschen schweige still!" = "Be silent before mankind!"

1 Lang: "new works"
2 Lang: "Thank God, who created her/him for you."


This text was added to the website: 2006-05-08
Line count: 40
Word count: 290

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Künftiger Frühling  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Joseph Schütky (1817 - 1893), "Künftiger Frühling", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für gemischte Stimmen) no. 2, published 1877 [ mixed chorus ], Stuttgart: Ebner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wohl blühet jedem Jahre
Sein Frühling mild und licht,
Auch jener große, klare --
Getrost! er fehlt dir nicht;
Er ist dir noch beschieden
Am Ziele deiner Bahn,
Du ahnest ihn hienieden,
Und droben bricht er an.

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Confirmed with Uhlands Werke, Erster Teil, Gedichte, herausgegeben von Adalbert Silbermann, Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart: Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co., [no year], page 41, titled "Künftiger Frühling". The poem was titled "Der grosse Frühling" in the fourth edition of the collection, 1829.


by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
2. A future springtime
Language: English 
For every year, there blooms
Its springtime, gentle and bright,
Yon great, clear one as well --
Take heart! you shall not miss it;
It is allotted to you yet
At the goal of your path,
You sense it here below,
And there in the beyond it shall dawn.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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Translations of title(s):
"Getrost" = "Take heart!"
"Künft'ger Frühling" = "A future springtime"
"Künftiger Frühling" = "A future springtime"



This text was added to the website: 2023-04-12
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Frühlingsglaube  [sung text not yet checked]
by Franz Joseph Schütky (1817 - 1893), "Frühlingsglaube", op. 13 (Drei Lieder für gemischte Stimmen) no. 3, published 1877 [ mixed chorus ], Stuttgart: Ebner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die [linden]1 Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie [säuseln und weben]2 Tag und Nacht,
Sie [schaffen]3 an allen Enden.
O [frischer]4 Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun armes Herze, sey nicht bang!
Nun muß sich [Alles, Alles]5 wenden.

Die Welt wird schöner [mit]5 jedem Tag,
Man weiß nicht, was noch [werden]6 mag,
Das Blühen [will]7 nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, [tiefste]8 Thal.
Nun armes [Herz]9, vergiß [der]10 Qual!
Nun muß sich [Alles, Alles]11 wenden.

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Confirmed with Deutscher Dichterwald. von Justinus Kerner, Friedrich Baron de la Motte Fouqué, Ludwig Uhland und Andern. Tübingen in der J. F. Heerbrandt'schen Buchhandlung. 1813, page 5; and with Gedichte von Ludwig Uhland. Stuttgart und Tübingen in der J. G. Cotta'schen Buchhandlung. 1815, page 54.

Note: some editions have a typo in stanza 1, line 2: word 4 is "wehen". Lachner's score also has this typo.

1 Klein: "lauen"
2 Kittl: "säuseln, weben"
3 Hanslick: "schaff'n"
4 Kittl, Unger: "süßer"
5 Kittl, Hanslick: "Alles"
6 Goetz: "kommen"
7 Goetz: "es will"
8 Kittl: "stillste"
9 Goetz: "Herze"
10 Kittl: "die"
11 Hanslick: "Alles"

by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862)
3. Spring faith
Language: English 
Balmy breezes are awakened,
They whisper and move day and night,
And everywhere creative.
O fresh scent, o new sound!
Now, poor heart, don't be afraid.
Now all, all must change.

With each day the world grows fairer,
One cannot know what is still to come,
The flowering refuses to cease.
Even the deepest, most distant valley is in flower.
Now, poor heart, forget your torment.
Now all, all must change.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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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Translation of title "Frühlingsglaube" = "Spring faith"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by David Gordon