English translations of Vier Duette, opus 53

by Max Stange (1856 - 1932)

1. Was thut's  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Stange (1856 - 1932), "Was thut's", op. 53 (Vier Duette) no. 1, published 1896 [ duet for alto and baritone with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Was thut's, wenn auch die Lippen
[Der]1 Liebe schweigen,
Wenn stille nur im Auge
Glänzet die Neigung!
   [Denn in]2 der Liebe 
   Sind Blicke beredter
   Als Worte der [Lippe]3.

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Confirmed with Spanisches Liederbuch von Emanuel Geibel und Paul Heyse, Dritte Auflage, Stuttgart und Berlin: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1904, page 190.

1 Stange: "Von der"
1 Stange: "In"
1 Stange: "Lippen"

by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914)
1. What's the use
Language: English 
What's the use, even if one's lips 
Are silent about love,
When fondness silently
Glows only in the eyes!
   [For in]1 the case of loving
   Glances speak more
   Than words uttered by one's lips.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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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1 Stange: "In"


This text was added to the website: 2022-07-27
Line count: 7
Word count: 35

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Wie wundersam!  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Stange (1856 - 1932), "Wie wundersam!", op. 53 (Vier Duette) no. 2, published 1896 [ duet for alto and baritone with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie wundersam ist dies Verlorengeh'n
In Liebestiefen ohne Ziel [und]1 Schranken:
Die ganze Welt mit lichten Augen seh'n,
Im Sonnenschimmer klarer Freude geh'n,
Eins sein in [einem tiefen]2 Glücksgedanken!

Und wie im Leben auch die Stürme weh'n,
Da ist kein [Zagen und da]3 ist kein Schwanken:
Fest steht die Liebe, [wie]4 die Sterne steh'n --
Wie wundersam ist dies Verlorengeh'n
In Liebestiefen ohne [Ziel und]5 Schranken!

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Confirmed with Karl Stieler, Gesammelte Werke, Zweiter Band, Gesammelte Dichtungen (hochdeutsch), Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1908, page 308.

1 Grimm: "noch"
2 Grimm: "einem"
3 Gellert: "Zagen, da"; Grimm: "Zagen,"
4 Gellert: "fest wie"
5 Gellert: "Ziel, ohne"; Grimm: "Ziel noch"

by Karl Stieler (1842 - 1885)
2.
Language: English 
How wondrous is this losing of one’s self
In depths of love [without goal and]1 barriers:
To see the whole world with bright eyes,
To walk in the shimmering sunshine of pure joy,
To be at one in [a deep]2 thought of happiness!

And however much the storms may blow in life,
There is no [hesitating and]3 there is no faltering:
Love stands as firm as the stars stand --
How wondrous is this losing one’s self
In depths of love [without goal and]1 barriers!

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.
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Translations of title(s):
"Wie wundersam . . . !" = "How wondrous . . . !"
"Wie wundersam ist das Verlorengehn" = "How wondrous is this losing of one’s self"
"Wie wundersam ist dies Verlorengeh'n" = "How wondrous is this losing of one’s self"

1 Grimm: "with neither goal nor"
2 Grimm: "a"
3 Grimm: "hesitating,"


This text was added to the website: 2024-06-14
Line count: 10
Word count: 88

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Wenn zwei sich lieben  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Stange (1856 - 1932), "Wenn zwei sich lieben", op. 53 (Vier Duette) no. 3, published 1896 [ duet for alto and baritone with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Wann]1 Zwei sich lieben 
[Von]2 ganzem Herzen,
Die müssen ertragen 
Der Trennung Schmerzen.

[Wann]1 Zwei sich lieben 
Aus tiefster Seele,
Die müssen glauben 
An Himmelsbefehle.

[Wann]1 Zwei sich lieben 
Mit Gottesflammen,
Geschieht ein Wunder
Und bringt sie zusammen!

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1 Goldmark: "Wenn"
2 Goldmark: "Vom"

sometimes misattributed to Salomon Hermann, Ritter von Mosenthal (1821 - 1877) and by Wilhelm Jordan (1819 - 1904)
3. When two people love each other
Language: English 
When two people love each other
with all their hearts
they must endure
the pain of separation.

When two people love each other
from the depths of their souls
they must believe
in heaven's commands.

When two people love each other
with divine fire,
a miracle occurs
and brings them together!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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: 2012-11-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 51

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Du bist mein, ich bin Dein  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Stange (1856 - 1932), "Du bist mein, ich bin Dein", op. 53 (Vier Duette) no. 4, published 1896 [ duet for alto and baritone with piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
[Du bist mein! Ich bin dein!]1
Des sollst du [gewiß]2 sein.
Du bist [beschlossen]3 in meinem Herzen,
Verloren ist das Schlüsselein - 
[Du mußt immer darinnen sein!]4

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1 Cornelius, Grabert, Kleffel, Meyer-Helmund, Mottl, Raff, Rosenthal: "Ich bin dein, du bist mein,"
2 Humperdinck: "gewiß mir" ; Rosenthal: "ganz gewisse"
3 Rosenthal: "verschlossen"
4 Cornelius, Kleffel, Meyer-Helmund: "Nun mußt du immer drinnen sein." ; Humperdinck: "Du mußt immer drinnen sein." ; Mottl: "So musst du stets darinnen sein!"; Raff: "Nun musst du immer darinnen sein."; Rosenthal: "Drum mußt du immer drinne sein"

4.
Language: English 
[You are mine! I am yours!]1
Of that you may be [sure]2.
You are locked up within my heart,
The little key is lost -
[You]3 must always remain in there!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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):
"Altes Minnelied" = "Old courtly love-song"
"Alter Liebesreim" = "Old love-rhyme"
"Du bist mein, ich bin dein" = "Your are mine, I am yours"
"Altdeutsches Liebeslied" = "Old German love-song"
"Dein" = "Yours"
"Ich bin dein" = "I am yours"
"Altdeutscher Liebesreim" = "Old German love-rhyme"
"Du bist mein" = "You are mine"
"Ich bin Dein, Du bist mein" = "I am yours, you are mine"
"Liebesreim" = "Love rhyme"
"Ein Wort der Liebe" = "A word of love"

1 Cornelius, Meyer-Helmund, Rosenthal: "I am yours, you are mine"
2 Rosenthal "completely sure"
3 Cornelius, Meyer-Helmund: "Now you"


This text was added to the website: 2018-03-22
Line count: 5
Word count: 34

Translation © by Sharon Krebs