English translations of Fünf deutsche Lieder mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 32

by Friedrich Ernst Fesca (1789 - 1826)

1. Ständchen aus der Ferne  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Ernst Fesca (1789 - 1826), "Ständchen aus der Ferne", op. 32 (Fünf deutsche Lieder mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3 [ voice and piano ], Bonn: N. Simrock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Traget linde Lüftchen! traget
   meiner [Harfe]1 leisen Klang,
   meiner Stimme Abendsang,
zu der Holden die ich meine,
   sagt ihr wieder [was]2 ich hier,
   ach so weit getrennt von ihr,
[stöhne, weine]3.

Was ich selbst mir nicht [erlaubt]4,
   bei der Abend-Kühlung [Wehn]5
   seufzend einen Kuß zu flehn,
bitte jetzt mit sanfter Klage,
   [Harfe]1! daß der Abendwind
   Noch den Ton, [so leis und lind]6
zu ihr trage.

Dort durch ihre Locken lisple
   was ihr Trauter seufzend meint[,]
   jede Zähre die er weint,
jedes Schmeicheln seiner Lieder,
   jedes Hoffen das er hegt,
   jeden Wunsch der ihn bewegt
sag' ihr wieder.

Traget linde Lüftchen! traget
   meiner [Harfe]1 leisen Ton
   zu der Holden, die ich schon
[im entflammten]7 Geist umschließe,
   lispelt wenn die Stimme schweigt,
   und der letzte Ton entweicht,
noch [Luise]8! --

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Confirmed with Lyratöne von Theodor Hell, Zweite Tonreihe, Dresden: Arnoldsche Buchhandlung, 1821, pages 41-42.

Note: There are three manuscripts of Lang's song. The first version sets all four stanzas. The second version contains only the text of the first stanza, but with room left on the score for the other three. The third version sets only the first stanza.

1 Harder: "Laute"
2 Harder: "dass"
3 Harder: "stöhn' und weine"
4 Harder: "erlaubte"
5 Lang (first version only): "weh'n"
6 Lang (first version only), Harder: "eh' er verrinnt"
7 Lang (first version only): "jetzt in trübem"; Harder: "jetzt im trunk'nen"
8 Lang (first version only), Harder: "Elise"

by Karl Gottfried Theodor Winkler (1775 - 1856)
1. Serenade from afar
Language: English 
Gentle breezes, carry! carry
   the quiet sounds of my harp,
   the evening song of my voice,
to the lovely one whom I mean,
   tell her again, how here, 
   ah separated so far from her,
I moan, weep.

What I did not permit myself to do,
   sighingly to beg for a kiss
   at the wafting of the evening coolness,
[I] plead now with gentle lamenting,
   harp! that the evening wind,
   may yet, [so quietly and softly]1,
carry the tone to her.

Whisper through her curly hair
   that which her beloved means as he sighs[,]
   every tear that he sheds,
every flattery of his songs,
   every hope he cherishes,
   every wish that moved him,
tell to her once more.

Gentle breezes, carry! carry
   the quiet tones of my harp
   to my beloved, whom [in fervent]2 spirit
I already embrace,
   whisper yet when my voice falls silent,
   and the last tone vanishes,
[Luise]3! --

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  • 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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Translations of title(s):
"Ständchen" = "Serenade"
"Ständchen aus der Ferne" = "Serenade from afar"

1 Lang (first version only): "before it dissipates"
2 Lang (first version only): "now in dulled"
3 Lang (first version only): "Elise"


This text was added to the website: 2022-12-29
Line count: 28
Word count: 154

Translation © by Sharon Krebs