English translations of Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, opus 4

by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892)

1. Romanze  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892), "Romanze", op. 4 (Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine) no. 1, published 1864 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Wellen blinken und fließen dahin,
Es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!
Am Flusse sitzet die Schäferin 
Und windet die zärtlichsten Kränze.

Das knospet und [quillt und duftet und blüht,]1
es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!
Die Schäferin seufzt aus [vollem Gemüt]2:
»Wem geb' ich meine Kränze?«

Ein Reiter reitet den Fluß entlang,
er grüßet so blühenden Mutes,
die Schäferin schaut ihm nach so bang,
fern flattert die Feder des Hutes.

Sie weint und wirft in den gleitenden Fluß
die schönen Blumenkränze.
Die Nachtigall singt von Lieb' und Kuß,
es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze!

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Note: in later editions, Heine changed "quillt und duftet und blüht" to "quillt, mit duftender Lust" in stanza 2, line 1. In addition, "vollem Gemüt" was changed to "tiefer Brust" in stanza 2, line 3.

1 Stanford: "quillt, mit duftender Lust"
2 Brahms, Stanford: "tiefer Brust"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1.
Language: English 
The waves flash and flow in;
Love is so lovely in Spring!
By the river the shepherdess sits
And weaves delicate crowns of wreaths.

The budding, the [streaming, the wafting, and blossoming]1 -
Love is so lovely in spring!
The shepherdess sighs [with a full heart]2:
"To whom shall I give my wreaths?"

A horseman rides along the river:
he greets her with radiant cheer,
the shepherdess gazes at him shyly,
and far in the distance the feather flutters in his cap.

She weeps and throws into the gliding river
those lovely wreaths of flowers.
The nightingale sings of love and kisses;
Love is so lovely in the spring!

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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1 Stanford: "the streaming, with joyous, wafting fragrances"
2 Brahms, Stanford: "from deep in her bosom"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 110

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Die Rheinfahrt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892), "Die Rheinfahrt", op. 4 (Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine) no. 2, published 1864 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie der Mond sich leuchtend dränget
Durch den dunkeln Wolkenflor,
Also taucht aus dunkeln Zeiten
Mir ein lichtes Bild hervor.

Saßen all auf dem Verdecke,
Fuhren stolz hinab den Rhein,
Und die sommergrünen Ufer
Glühn im Abendsonnenschein.

Sinnend saß ich zu den Füßen
Einer Dame, schön und hold;
In ihr liebes bleiches Antlitz
Spielt' das rote Sonnengold.

Lauten klangen, Buben sangen,
Wunderbare Fröhlichkeit!
Und der Himmel wurde blauer,
Und die Seele wurde weit.

Märchenhaft vorüberzogen
Berg und Burgen, Wald und Au; -
Und das alles sah ich glänzen
In dem Aug der schönen Frau.

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by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2.
[Translation not yet available]
3. Mainacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892), "Mainacht", op. 4 (Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine) no. 3, published 1864 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
   Sterne mit den goldnen Füßchen,
Wandeln droben bang und sacht,
Daß sie nicht die Erde wecken
Die da schläft im Schoß der Nacht.
 
   Horchend stehn die stummen Wälder,
Jedes Blatt ein grünes Ohr!
Und der Berg, wie träumend streckt er
Seinen Schattenarm hervor.
 
   Doch was rief [dort]1? In mein Herze
Dringt der Töne Widerhall.
War es der Geliebten Stimme,
Oder [nur]2 die Nachtigall?

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [no year], page 251.

1 Franz, Wolf: "es"
2 Franz, Wolf: "war's"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3. May night
Language: English 
   Stars with little golden feet
Are wandering above, anxiously and gently,
So that they do not waken the earth
That sleeps in the lap of night.
 
   Listening the mute forests stand,
Every leaf a green ear!
And the mountain, as in a dream,
Stretches forth its shadowy arm.
 
   But what called [yonder]1? Into my heart
Penetrates the echo of the sounds.
Was it the voice of my beloved,
Or [simply]2 the nightingale?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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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Translated titles:
"Sterne mit den gold'nen Füßchen" = "Stars with little golden feet"
"Sterne" = "Stars"
"Nachtlied" = "Night song"
"Sommernacht" = "Summer night"
"Nachtstück" = "Night piece"
"Mainacht" = "May night"

1 omitted by Franz, Wolf
2 Franz, Wolf: "was it"


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-27
Line count: 12
Word count: 75

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Frühlingslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892), "Frühlingslied", op. 4 (Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine) no. 4, published 1864 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise [zieht]1 durch mein Gemüth
Liebliches Geläute.
Klinge, kleines Frühlingslied,
Kling' hinaus in's Weite.

[Kling']2 hinaus bis an das Haus,
Wo die [Blumen]3 sprießen.
Wenn du eine Rose schaust,
Sag' ich lass' sie grüßen.

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Confirmed with Neue Gedichte von Heinrich Heine, Zehnte Auflage, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1871, page 10.

Note: modern German would change the spelling "Gemüth" to "Gemüt"

1 Quiteria: "klingt"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Grieg: "Zieh"
3 Behrens, Gade, Grieg, Urspruch, Zenger: "Veilchen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4. Sweet chimes are softly filling my soul
Language: English 
Sweet chimes are softly
filling my soul;
Ring, little springtime-song
Ring out: far and wide.

Go forward till you reach the house,
where the violets bloom;
And if you see a rose,
give her my greetings.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Marty Lucas
5. Frühling  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892), "Frühling", op. 4 (Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine) no. 5, published 1864 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In dem Walde sprießt und grünt es
Fast jüngfräulich lustbeklommen;
Doch die Sonne [lacht]1 herunter:
Junger Frühling, sei willkommen!

Nachtigall! auch dich schon hör' ich,
Wie du flötest selig trübe
Schluchzend langgezogne Töne,
Und dein Lied ist lauter Liebe!

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Confirmed with: Heinrich Heine’s sämtliche Werke in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Otto F. Lachmann, Erster Band, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun, [1887], page 240.

1 Hohfeld: "scheint"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
5. Spring song
Language: English 
In the forest it blooms and greens
almost virginally full of desire;
yet the sun laughs down:
young Spring, welcome!

Nightingale, I already hear
how you sing, blissfully sad,
long, sobbing tones,
and your song is pure love!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John W. Grubbs, (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: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by John W. Grubbs
6. Traum  [sung text not yet checked]
by Friedrich Hinrichs (1820 - 1892), "Traum", op. 4 (Sechs Gedichte von Heinrich Heine) no. 6, published 1864 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aus alten Märchen winkt es
Hervor mit weißer Hand,
Da singt es und da klingt es
Von einem Zauberland;

Wo bunte Blumen blühen
Im gold'nen Abendlicht,
Und lieblich duftend glühen,
Mit bräutlichem Gesicht;

Und grüne Bäume singen
Uralte Melodei'n,
Die Lüfte heimlich klingen,
Und Vögel schmettern drein;

Und Nebelbilder steigen
Wohl aus der Erd' hervor,
Und tanzen [luft'gen]1 Reigen
Im wunderlichen Chor; 

Und blaue Funken brennen
[An]2 jedem Blatt und Reis,
Und rote Lichter [rennen]3
Im irren, wirren Kreis;

Und laute Quellen brechen
Aus wildem Marmorstein.
Und seltsam in den Bächen
Strahlt fort der Widerschein. 

Ach, könnt' ich dorthin kommen,
Und dort mein Herz erfreu'n,
Und aller Qual entnommen,
Und frei und selig sein!

Ach! jenes Land der Wonne,
Das seh' ich oft im Traum,
Doch kommt die Morgensonne,
Zerfließt's wie eitel Schaum.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 148. Note: this is the original version. Later editions had many changes.

1 Grill: "lust'gen" (typo?)
2 Grill: "Auf"
3 Grill: "brennen"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
6. From old fairy tales beckons
Language: English 
From old fairy tales beckons
To me a white hand,
Where there is a singing and sounding
Of a magical land,

Where multicolored flowers bloom
In golden twilight,
And glow lovely and fragrant
With their bridal visage,

And where green trees sing
Primeval melodies;
Where breezes sound secretly,
And birds warble,

And mist-figures rise
From the earth
And dance airy round-dances
In an odd chorus,

And blue sparks burn
On every leaf and twig,
And red lights run
In a mad, chaotic circle,

And loud springs break
Out of wild marble stone,
And in the streams--oddly--
Shine forth the reflections.

Ah! If I could enter there
And indulge my heart
And give up my agony
And be free and holy!

Ah! This is the land of bliss
That I see so often in a dream,
But when the morning sun comes,
It melts like mere froth.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Paul Hindemith, (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: 

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 146

Translation © by Paul Hindemith