English translations of Fünf ernste Gesänge für Männerchor, opus 93

by Albert Ernst Anton Becker (1834 - 1899)

1. Sehnsucht nach Vergessen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Ernst Anton Becker (1834 - 1899), "Sehnsucht nach Vergessen", op. 93 (Fünf ernste Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 1, published 1899 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lethe! Brich die Fesseln des Ufers, gieße 
Aus der Schattenwelt mir herüber deine 
Welle, daß den Wunden der bangen Seel' ich
  Trinke Genesung.1

Frühling kommt mit Duft und Gesang und Liebe,
Will wie sonst mir sinken ans Herz; doch schlägt ihm 
Nicht das Herz entgegen wie sonst. -- O Lethe! 
  Sende die Welle!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Kienzl adds the echo "Daß ich Trinke Genesung"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
1. Longing to forget
Language: English 
Lethe! Burst the fetters of your banks, pour 
your wave across to me from the world of shadows,
That I may drink a cure for the wounds 
  Of a frightened soul.

Spring brings fragrance and song and love,
Wanting as usual to fall on my breast;
But my heart does not beat its usual response. -- O Lethe!
  Send the wave!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Peter Palmer, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2011-05-14
Line count: 8
Word count: 60

Translation © by Peter Palmer
2. Primula veris  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Ernst Anton Becker (1834 - 1899), "Primula veris", op. 93 (Fünf ernste Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 2, published 1899 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
I
 Liebliche Blume, 
 bist du so früh schon 
 wiedergekommen?
 Sei mir gegrüsset, 
 [Primula veris!]1

 Leiser denn alle 
 Blumen der Wiese 
 hast du geschlummert,
 liebliche [Blume]2,
 [Primula veris!]1

 Dir nur vernehmbar 
 lockte das erste 
 Sanfte Geflüster
 weckenden Frühlings,
 Primula veris!

 Mir auch im Herzen 
 blühte vor Zeiten,
 schöner denn alle 
 Blumen der Liebe,
 Primula veris!

II
 Liebliche Blume,
 Primula veris!
 Holde, dich nenn ich
 Blume des Glaubens. 

 Gläubig dem ersten
 Winke des Himmels
 Eilst du entgegen,
 Öffnest die Brust ihm.

 Frühling ist kommen.
 Mögen ihn Fröste,
 Trübende Nebel
 Wieder verhüllen;

 Blume, du glaubst es,
 Daß der ersehnte
 Göttliche Frühling
 Endlich gekommen,

 Öffnest die Brust ihm;
 Aber es dringen
 Lauernde Fröste
 Tödlich ins Herz dir.

 Mag es verwelken!
 Ging doch der Blume
 Gläubige Seele
 Nimmer verloren.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)
1 Mendelssohn: "Botin des Frühlings"
2 Mendelssohn: "Primel"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
2. Primula Veris
Language: English 
I
 Sweet flower, 
 you are so early
 already come back? 
 I greet you,
 Primula veris!

 Softly because 
 the other meadow flowers
 still doze on, 
 sweet flower,
 Primula veris!

 You only 
 have beckoned 
 the first mild whispering 
 of awakening spring,
 Primula veris!

 My heart also 
 blooms earlier,
 more beautiful than 
 all flowers is Love,
 Primula veris!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 21
Word count: 55

Translation © by John H. Campbell
3. An die Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Ernst Anton Becker (1834 - 1899), "An die Nacht", op. 93 (Fünf ernste Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 3, published 1899 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Weil' auf mir, du dunkles Auge,
Übe deine ganze Macht,
Ernste, milde, [träumerische]1,
Unergründlich süße Nacht!

Nimm mit deinem Zauberdunkel
Diese Welt von hinnen mir,
Daß du über meinem Leben
Einsam schwebest für und für.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Nicolaus Lenau's sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von G. Emil Barthel, Leipzig: Druck und Verlag von Philipp Reclam jun., [1883], page 11.

1 Bolko von Hochberg: "zauberische"; Sjögren: "träumereiche"

by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850)
3. Linger on me, dark eyes
Language: English 
Linger on me, dark eyes -
exert your entire power,
somber, mild, dream-like,
unfathomably sweet night.

With your magic darkness
take from me this world,
so that above my life
you alone will float forever and ever.

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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 36

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Mutterherz  [sung text not yet checked]
by Albert Ernst Anton Becker (1834 - 1899), "Mutterherz", op. 93 (Fünf ernste Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 4, published 1899 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Nun will das Laub der Wind verwehn,
Matt wird der Sonnenstrahl;
Doch wird's auch Herbst, mag Alles geh'n,
Mir blüht der Lenz zumal.
Den bricht kein Wind, den nimmt kein Schmerz:
Es ist mein liebes Mutterherz.

  Schlöss' man den Englein auch die Thür
Des Paradieses zu,
Sie suchten dich, o glaub' es mir,
Geliebte Mutter du!
Ich hab' dein Herz und laß es nicht,
Bis meines einst im Tode bricht.

  Wol [sic] ist dein Haar, o Mütterlein,
Schon weiß wie Winterschnee,
Doch ist dein Herz voll Rosenschein
Und ohne Dornenweh.
Was will der Herbst, der Erde Schmerz?
Mein Frühling blüht: der Mutter Herz!

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Confirmed with Franz Alfred Muth, Waldblumen, Dritte, durchaus ausgewählte und reich vermehrte Auflage, Paderborn: Druck und Verlag von Ferdinand Schöningh, 1885, page 82.


by Franz Alfred Muth (1839 - 1890)
4. A mother's heart
Language: English 
  Now the wind wants to blow away the leaves,
The sun's beams grow pale;
But though autumn comes, though everything may vanish,
For me springtime blossoms particularly.
No wind may break it, no pain may take it away:
It is my dear mother's heart.

  Even if one closed the door of paradise,
Shutting the angels out,
They would seek you, oh believe me,
You beloved mother!
I have your heart and shall not leave hold of it
Until my own once breaks in death.

  Though your hair, oh dear mother, is already
As white as winter's snow,
Your heart nevertheless is full of the glow of roses
And without the pain of thorns.
What do I care for autumn, for the pain of the world?
My spring blooms:  my mother's heart!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2021-01-19
Line count: 18
Word count: 132

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. Wunsch
by Albert Ernst Anton Becker (1834 - 1899), "Wunsch", op. 93 (Fünf ernste Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 5, published 1899 [ men's chorus ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich wollt', es gäb' keine Sonne
 . . . . . . . . . .

— The rest of this text is not
currently in the database but will be
added as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Go to the general single-text view

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5.
[Translation not yet available]