English translations of Zwei Gesänge, opus 48

by Egon Joseph Wellesz (1885 - 1974)

1. Erst die Mitternacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Egon Joseph Wellesz (1885 - 1974), "Erst die Mitternacht", op. 48 (Zwei Gesänge) no. 1 (1932) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du hast Tag und Nacht gesetzt
  Über deiner Erde,
Tag, da sich das Aug ergetzt,
  Nacht voll Ungebärde.

Lehr uns danken, ewig Licht,
  Für die finstern Stunden,
Auch für die, da Dein Gesicht
  Über uns verschwunden!

Denn soweit ein Auge wacht
  In des Fleisches Banden,
Zeigt uns erst die Mitternacht,
  Daß dein Tag vorhanden.

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Confirmed with Rudolf Alexander Schröder, Gesammelte Werke in Fünf Bänden, Erster Band, Die Gedichte, Berlin und Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1952, page 733.


by Rudolf Alexander Schröder (1878 - 1962)
1. Only midnight
Language: English 
Thou hast set day and night
  Over Thy earth,
Day, so that our eyes may delight in it,
  Night full of unbridled wildness.

Eternal light, teach us to give thanks
  For the dark hours,
Also for those in which Thy face
  Has vanished from above us!

For as far as human eyes are wakeful
  In the bonds of the flesh,
'Tis only midnight that shows us
  That Thy day is there.

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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This text was added to the website: 2024-01-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. An den Abendstern  [sung text not yet checked]
by Egon Joseph Wellesz (1885 - 1974), "An den Abendstern", op. 48 (Zwei Gesänge) no. 2 (1932) [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Abendstern, der Tag verblaßt,
  Tritt hervor ins Blau,
Daß ich über meiner Last
  Die Verheißung schau.

Bote, brüderlich gesandt,
  Sterne Ingesind,
Der den Drein aus Morgenland
  Krippe wies und Kind.

Über meinem armen Zelt
  Halt ein Weilchen Rast,
Sei der immer dunklern Welt
  Immer lichtrer Gast.

Wächter, walte deiner Pflicht,
  Es ist Schlafenszeit;
Sammle vor dein Angesicht,
  Was der Tag entzweit.

Den, der jetzt noch wandern müßt,
  Mach des Wegs gewiß,
Wenn sein Aug das deine grüßt
  Durch die Finsternis.

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Confirmed with Rudolf Alexander Schröder, Gesammelte Werke in Fünf Bänden, Erster Band, Die Gedichte, Berlin und Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1952, pages 711-712.


by Rudolf Alexander Schröder (1878 - 1962)
2. To the evening star
Language: English 
Evening star, the day grows pale,
  Step forth into the blue,
So that despite my burden
  I may see the prophecy.

Messenger, sent as a brother,
  Servant of the stars,
That once to the three from the East,
  Showed the way to the manger and the child.

Tarry for a while
  Above my poor tent,
To this dark world be
  An ever brighter guest.

Watchman, do your duty,
  It is time to sleep;
Gather before your face
  That which the day has sundered.

Make him who should still wander yet
  Sure of his pathway,
When his eye greets yours
  Through the darkness.

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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2024-02-23
Line count: 20
Word count: 102

Translation © by Sharon Krebs