English translations of Drei Gedichte von Reinick, Geibel und J. Kerner für drei Frauenstimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, opus 23

by Otto Tiehsen (1817 - 1849)

1. Frühling
 (Sung text)
by Otto Tiehsen (1817 - 1849), "Frühling", op. 23 (Drei Gedichte von Reinick, Geibel und J. Kerner für drei Frauenstimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1844, stanzas 1-4 [ vocal trio for female voices with piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schneeglöckchen tut läuten:
  Kling -- ling -- ling
Was hat das zu bedeuten? --
  Ei, gar ein lustiges Ding!

Der Frühling heut' geboren ward,
Ein Kind der allerschönsten Art;
Zwar liegt er noch im weißen Bett,
Doch spielt er schon so wundernett,
Herbei, ihr Vöglein, aus dem Süd'
Und bringet neue Lieder mit!
  Ihr Quellen all, 
  Erwacht im Tal!
Was soll das lange Zaudern?
Sollt mit dem Kinde plaudern!

Maiglöckchen tut läuten!
  Bim -- bam -- bam!
Was hat das zu bedeuten?
  Frühling ist Bräutigam:

Macht Hochzeit mit der Erde heut'
Mit großer Pracht und Herrlichkeit.
Wohlauf denn, Nelk' und Tulipan,
Und schwenkt die bunte Hochzeitfahn'!
Du Ros' und Lilie, schmücket euch,
Brautjungfern sollt ihr werden gleich!
  Ihr Schmetterling'  
  Sollt bunt und flink
Den Hochzeitreigen führen,
Die Vögel musiciren!

 ...

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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4 of the original text.

Note for stanza 4, line 10, word 3: sometimes spelled "musizieren"

by Robert Reinick (1805 - 1852)
1.
Language: English 
The snowdrop bell rings:
  Ding -- ding -- ding!
What does that mean?
  Oh, such a merry thing!

Spring was born today,
A child of the most beautiful sort;
To be sure it still lies in its white bed,
But it is already so wondrously playful,
Come therefore, ye birds, from the south
And bring along new songs!
  All ye water-springs
  Waken in the valley!
What is all this long tarrying?
You are to prattle with the child!

The lily-of-the-valley bell rings!
  Bim -- bim -- bim!
What does that mean?
  Spring is a bridegroom:

Today springtime marries the earth!
With great splendour and festivity.
Come then, carnations and tulips,
And flourish the colourful wedding flag!
Ye roses and lilies, adorn yourselves,
You are to become bridesmaids at once!
  Ye butterflies
  Colourfully and quickly you are 
To lead the marriage dance,
The birds provide the music!

 ...

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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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-4 of the original text.


This text was added to the website: 2024-07-05
Line count: 42
Word count: 235

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Alphorn
 (Sung text)
by Otto Tiehsen (1817 - 1849), "Alphorn", op. 23 (Drei Gedichte von Reinick, Geibel und J. Kerner für drei Frauenstimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1844 [ vocal trio for female voices with piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein Alphorn hör' ich schallen,
Das mich von hinnen ruft;
Tönt es aus wald'gen Hallen,
Tönt es aus blauer Luft?
Tönt es von Bergeshöhe,
Aus blumenreichem Tal?
Wo ich nur geh' und stehe,
Hör' ich's in süßer Qual.
 
Bei Spiel und frohem Reigen,
Einsam mit mir allein,
Tönt's, ohne je zu schweigen,
Tönt tief in's Herz hinein.
Noch nie hab' ich gefunden
Den Ort, woher es schallt,
Und nimmer wird gesunden
Dies Herz, bis es verhallt.

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Note: in some editions of Strauss, stanza 1, line 6, word 1 is "Von" instead of "Aus".

by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862)
2. Alphorn
Language: English 
The sound of an alphorn
Rings out for me to come;
Does it resound from the forest's halls,
does it resound from out of the blue?
Does it resound from the hilltops,
From a valley's flowery meadow?
Wherever I go or stay,
the haunting sound follows.

Whether in play and joyous round dance,
Or altogether alone,
It resounds, never ever falling silent,
Resounds deep in my heart.
I have never found the source
Of the sound,
And never will heal
This heart of mine, until it dies out.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Linda Godry, (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: 2006-12-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Linda Godry
3. Lied
 (Sung text)
by Otto Tiehsen (1817 - 1849), "Lied", op. 23 (Drei Gedichte von Reinick, Geibel und J. Kerner für drei Frauenstimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1844 [ vocal trio for female voices with piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In meinem Garten die Nelken
mit ihrem Purpurstern
müssen nun alle verwelken,
   denn du bist fern.

Auf meinem Herde die Flammen
die ich bewacht so gern,
sanken zu Asche zusammen,
   denn du bist fern.

Die Welt ist mir verdorben,
mich grüßt nicht Blum' noch Stern,
mein Herz ist lange gestorben,
   denn du bist fern.

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Note for stanza 1, line 4: in Stuckenschmidt's setting, "du, ach du" returns to the original "du" in the repetition.

by Emanuel Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. The carnations in my garden
Language: English 
The carnations in my garden
with their crimson center-star
they all must wilt away now,
because you are afar.

The flames in my hearth
I so loved to watch,
they crumbled to ashes,
because you are afar.

The world went sour,
with neither flower greeting me nor star -
my heart died away long ago,
because you are afar.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Linda Godry, (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: 2005-03-31
Line count: 12
Word count: 58

Translation © by Linda Godry