English translations of Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Otto Julius Bierbaum und Karl Henckell, opus 48

by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)

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1. Freundliche Vision
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Freundliche Vision", op. 48 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Otto Julius Bierbaum und Karl Henckell) no. 1 (1900), published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nicht im Schlafe hab' ich das geträumt,
Hell am Tage sah ich's schön vor mir:
Eine Wiese voller Margeritten;
Tief ein weißes Haus in grünen Büschen;
Götterbilder leuchten aus dem Laube.
Und ich geh' mit Einer, die mich lieb hat,
Ruhigen Gemütes in die Kühle
Dieses weißen Hauses, in den Frieden,
Der voll Schönheit wartet, daß wir kommen.

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by Otto Julius Bierbaum (1865 - 1910)
1. A pleasant vision
Language: English 
I did not dream this while asleep;
I saw it fair before me in the light of day:
A meadow full of daisies,
a white house deep in green bushes,
images of gods gleaming from the leaves.
And I walk with one who loves me,
in a peaceful mood in the coolness
of this white house, in which peace
awaits our arrival, full of beauty.

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: 65

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Ich schwebe
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Ich schwebe", op. 48 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Otto Julius Bierbaum und Karl Henckell) no. 2 (1900), published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich schwebe wie auf Engelsschwingen,
Die Erde kaum berührt mein Fuß,
In meinen Ohren hör' ich's klingen
Wie der Geliebten Scheidegruß.

Das tönt so lieblich, mild und leise,
Das spricht so zage, zart und rein,
Leicht lullt die nachgeklung'ne Weise
In wonneschweren Traum mich ein.

 ... 
Mein schimmernd Aug' -- indeß mich füllen
Die süßesten der Melodien, --
Sieht ohne Falten, ohne Hüllen
Mein lächelnd Lieb' vorüberziehn.

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by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
2. I float
Language: English 
I float as if on an angel's wings,
my foot hardly touching the ground,
I hear a lament resounding
As if it were my love's farewell.

It resounds, so lovely, gentle and soft,
It speaks to me, so shy, so frail and pure,
The echo of the melody softly lulling
Me into a blissful dream.





My gleaming eye, while basking
In the sweetest of melodies
Watches my smiling love go by
Without any fabric's fold, any wraps.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by Linda Godry, (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: 2007-11-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 77

Translation © by Linda Godry
3. Kling!
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Kling!", op. 48 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Otto Julius Bierbaum und Karl Henckell) no. 3 (1900), published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kling!...
Meine Seele gibt reinen Ton.
Und ich wähnte die Arme
Von dem wütenden Harme
Wilder Zeiten zerrissen schon.

Sing!
Meine Seele, den Beichtgesang
Wiedergewonnener Fülle!
Hebe vom Herzen die Hülle!
Heil dir, geläuterter Innenklang!

Kling!
Kling meine Seele, kling dein Leben, 
Quellendes, frisches Gebild!
Blühendes hat sich begeben
Auf dem verdorrten Gefild.

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by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
3. Ring!
Language: English 
Ring!
My soul gives forth a pure sound.
And I imagined the poor thing
Already torn apart 
By the furious outrages of frantic times.

Sing! 
My soul the confessional song
Of exuberance reclaimed;
Lift the pall from your heart.
Hail to thee, chiming note within.

Ring!
Ring out your life,
Fresh, upwelling image.
Blossoming has taken place
Upon the withered field.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Shawn Thuris, (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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Note: this is a translation of the setting by Strauss.


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 61

Translation © by Shawn Thuris
4. Winterweihe
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Winterweihe", op. 48 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Otto Julius Bierbaum und Karl Henckell) no. 4 (1900), published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In diesen Wintertagen,
Nun sich das Licht verhüllt,
Laß uns im Herzen tragen,
Einander traulich sagen,
Was uns mit innerm Licht erfüllt.

Was milde Glut entzündet,
Soll brennen fort und fort,
Was Seelen zart verbündet,
Und Geisterbrücken gründet,
Sei unser leises Losungswort.

Das Rad der Zeit mag rollen,
Wir greifen kaum hinein,
Dem Schein der Welt verschollen,
Auf unserm Eiland wollen
Wir Tag und Nacht der sel'gen Liebe weih'n.

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by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
4. In these winter days
Language: English 
 In these winter days,
 now the light disguises itself,
 let us bear in our hearts
 and say confidentially to one another
 what fills ourselves with inner light.
 
 That which inflames mild ardor,
 should burn on and on;
 that which tenderly binds souls
 and builds ghostly bridges
 should be our soft password.
 
 The wheel of time may roll,
 but we hardly grasp it, 
 forgotten in the glow of the world.
 On our island we would
 dedicate day and night to blissful Love.

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: 15
Word count: 82

Translation © by Emily Ezust
5. Winterliebe
 (Sung text)
by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Winterliebe", op. 48 (Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Otto Julius Bierbaum und Karl Henckell) no. 5 (1900), published 1901 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Fürstner
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Sonne entgegen 
In Liebesgluten 
Wandr' ich... o Wonne, 
Wer mäße dein Maß!
Mit Reif bepudert 
Prangen die Wälder,
Die Berge grüßen 
Das blendende Licht.
Vor Eiseskälte 
Knirschen die Schritte,
Der Hauch des Mundes 
Ballt sich zu Dampf...
Ich trage Feuer 
In meinem Herzen,
Mich brennt die Liebe, 
Das schlimme Kind.
Sie schürt die Flamme
Mit hastigen Händen,
Die Kohlen knistern, 
Der Wohlduft quillt,
Der Sonne entgegen 
Im Liebesgluten 
Wandr' ich... o Wonne, 
Wer mäße dein Maß!

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by Karl Friedrich Henckell (1864 - 1929)
5. Winter love
Language: English 
Facing the sun,
Aglow with love, 
I wander. . . O joy
Beyond measure!
A sheen of frost 
Dresses the woods,
The mountains greet 
The dazzling light.
In the cold,
Footsteps crunch,
From my mouth, the breath
Condenses into mist . . . 
I carry fire 
In my heart,
Within me burns Love, 
The naughty child.
He fuels the flames
With busy hands,
The coals crackle
Spreading their scent. . . 
Facing the sun,
Aglow with love, 
I wander . . . O joy
Beyond measure!

Text Authorship:

  • by David Evan Thomas (b. 1958), "Winter love", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-11-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 86

Translation © by David Evan Thomas (b. 1958)