English translations of 3 Lieder, opus 16

by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891)

1. Die Nachtigallen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Die Nachtigallen", op. 16 (3 Lieder) no. 1, published 1860 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], Offenbach, André
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Möcht wissen, was sie schlagen
So schön bei der Nacht,
's ist in der Welt ja doch niemand,
Der mit ihnen wacht.

Und die Wolken, die reisen,
Und das Land ist so blaß,
Und die Nacht [wandert]1 leise
Durch den Wald übers Gras.

Nacht, Wolken, wohin sie gehen,
Ich weiß es recht gut,
Liegt ein Grund hinter den Höhen,
Wo meine Liebste jetzt ruht.

Zieht der Einsiedel sein Glöcklein,
Sie höret es nicht,
Es fallen ihre Löcklein
Übers ganze Gesicht.

Und daß sie niemand [erschrecket]2,
Der liebe Gott hat sie hier
Ganz mit Mondschein bedecket,
Da träumt sie von mir.

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1 some versions of Eichendorff (and Franz and Pfitzner): "wandelt"
2 Herzogenberg: "wecket"

by Joseph Karl Benedikt, Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857)
1. I would like to know what they sing
Language: English 
I would like to know what they sing
so beautifully at night,
though it is no one in the world
who watches with them.

And the clouds, they travel,
and the land is so pale,
and the night wanders silent
through the forest over grass.

Night, clouds, where they go to,
I know it quite well,
there lies a ground behind the Heights,
where my love now rests. 

The hermit rings his bell,
she cannot hear it,
her locks fall
whole over her face.

And lest anyone startle her,
God has covered her 
full with moonlight;
there she dreams of me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Jakob Kellner, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 101

Translation © by Jakob Kellner
2. Um Mitternacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Um Mitternacht", op. 16 (3 Lieder) no. 2, published 1860 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], Offenbach, André
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Um Mitternacht
Bin ich erwacht,
Und fragte mich still und leise:

Du irrer Gast,
Wo sandt du Rast
Auf deiner wirren Reise?

In fremdem Haus,
In Nacht und Graus,
Lieg' ich hier gebettet in Leiden.

Und stürb' ich jetzt,
Keine Wange netzt
Eine Thräne um mein Verscheiden.

Um Mitternacht
Bin ich erwacht,
Und weinte still und leise...

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Note: See also Rückert's poem that has a similar beginning.

by Berthold Auerbach
2.
[Translation not yet available]
3. Sehnsucht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Robert Emmerich (1836 - 1891), "Sehnsucht", op. 16 (3 Lieder) no. 3, published 1860 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], Offenbach, André
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Als mein Auge [sie]1 fand
Und mein Herz [sie]1 erkannt,
O, wie glühte die Brust
Von Entzücken, von Lust!

Wie voll Düfte die Au,
Und der [Himmel so]2 blau,
Und der Wald voll Gesang,
Und die Lüfte voll Klang!

Ohne [sie]1, wie so kalt,
Und die Welt, wie so alt,
Und die [Erde, wie]3 leer,
Und das Herz, ach, so schwer!

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Note: Marschner's score gives the singer the option to replace "sie" with "ihn" in stanza 1, line 1, word 4; stanza 1, line 2, word 4; stanza 3, line 1, word 2.

1 Kossmaly, Rheinberger: "dich"; Becker also has "dich" in the first line according to Hofmeister and further changes may exist not noted.
2 Kossmaly, Marschner, Schoenberg, Stöckhardt: "Himmel, wie"
3 Marschner: "Erde so"

by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869)
3.
Language: English 
When my eye found her
And my heart recognized her,
Oh, how my breast glowed
Enkindled with fire, with passion!

How full of fragrance are the meadows,
And the heavens so blue,
And the forest so full of singing,
And the breezes so full of sound!

Without her, how cold it is,
Und the world, how very old,
And the earth, how empty,
And the heart, ah, so heavy!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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: 2022-08-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall