English translations of Drei Lieder für Alt oder Bass mit Pianoforte, opus 69

by Ferdinand Sieber (1822 - 1895)

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1. Winternacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ferdinand Sieber (1822 - 1895), "Winternacht", op. 69 (Drei Lieder für Alt oder Bass mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1863 [ alto or bass and piano ], Berlin, Mendel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Verschneit liegt rings die ganze Welt,
Ich hab' Nichts, was mich freuet,
Verlassen steht der Baum im Feld,
Hat längst sein Laub verstreuet.

Der Wind nur geht bei stiller Nacht
Und rüttelt an den Baume,
Da rührt er seinen Wipfel sacht
Und redet wie im Traume.

Er träumt von künft'ger Frühlingszeit,
Von Grün und Quellenrauschen,
Wo er im neuen Blüten-Kleid
Zu Gottes Lob wird rauschen.

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by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. Winter night
Language: English 
The whole world lies covered in snow,
Nothing brings me joy;
The tree stands desolate in the field,
Having long since shed its leaves.

Only the wind stirs in the silent night;
And rustling in the tree,
It gently shakes the treetop there
And makes it speak as if in a dream.

[The tree] is dreaming of the springtime to come,
Of [the colour] green, and of hissing springs,
Of [a time] when, in a new cloak of blossoms,
It will rustle in praise of God.

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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This text was added to the website: 2014-10-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 86

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Im April   [sung text not yet checked]
by Ferdinand Sieber (1822 - 1895), "Im April ", op. 69 (Drei Lieder für Alt oder Bass mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1863 [ alto or bass and piano ], Berlin, Mendel
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)
2. 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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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Herbstklage  [sung text not yet checked]
by Ferdinand Sieber (1822 - 1895), "Herbstklage", op. 69 (Drei Lieder für Alt oder Bass mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1863 [ alto or bass and piano ], Berlin, Mendel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Holder Lenz, du bist dahin!
[Nirgends, nirgends]1 darfst du bleiben!
Wo ich sah dein frohes Blühn,
Braust des Herbstes banges Treiben.

Wie der Wind so traurig fuhr
Durch [den Strauch]2, als ob er weine;
Sterbeseufzer der Natur
Schauern durch [die welken Haine]3.

Wieder ist, wie bald! wie bald!
Mir ein Jahr [dahingeschwunden]4.
Fragend rauscht es [aus dem]5 Wald:
"Hat dein Herz sein Glück gefunden?"

Waldesrauschen, wunderbar
Hast du [mir das]6 Herz getroffen!
Treulich bringt ein jedes Jahr
[Welkes Laub und welkes]7 Hoffen.

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Confirmed with Gedichte von Nicolaus Lenau, Gesammt-Ausgabe, Leipzig, Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., 1881, pages 40-41.

1 Bill: "Nirgends"
2 Schoeck: "die Straßen" (streets)
3 Bill: "den welken Hain"
4 Bill: "geschwunden"
5 Bill: "durch den"
6 Bill: "mein"
7 Bill, Mendelssohn: "Neues Laub wie neues" (new leaves like new)

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
3. Autumn lament/song
Language: English 
 Lovely spring, you are gone!
 for never never may you remain!
 Where I saw your merry blossoms
 now bluster autumn's anxious stirrings.

 How the wind blows so mournfully
 through the bushes, as if it were weeping;
 Nature's dying sighs
 shudder through the decaying grove.

 Again it is, how soon, how soon!
 a year has vanished, lost from me.
 It rushes through the woods, asking
 "Has your heart found happiness?"

 Murmuring woods, how wonderfully
 have you affected my heart!
 Every year reliably brings
 Withered leaves and withered hopes.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 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: 2004-04-28
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Emily Ezust