English translations of Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, opus 37

by Constantin C. von Bach

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1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai  [sung text not yet checked]
by Constantin C. von Bach , "Im wunderschönen Monat Mai", op. 37 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1895 [ voice and piano ], Petersburg, Bessel & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Knospen sprangen, 1 
Da [ist]2 in meinem Herzen
Die Liebe aufgegangen.

Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,
Als alle Vögel sangen, 3
Da hab' ich ihr gestanden
Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 112.

1 Lachner adds: "Geweckt von süssen Schmerzen, / Von Sehnsucht sanft umfangen,"
2 Ender: "ist auch"
3 Lachner adds: "Die Blüten sich umwanden, / Die Zweige sich umschlangen,"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
1. In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
Language: English 
In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the buds are bursting open,
There, from my own heart,
Bursts forth my own love.

In the wonderfully beautiful month of May
When all the birds are singing,
So have I confessed to her
My yearning and my longing.

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.
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 48

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
2. Hör' ich das Liedchen klingen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Constantin C. von Bach , "Hör' ich das Liedchen klingen", op. 37 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1895 [ voice and piano ], Petersburg, Bessel & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hör' ich das Liedchen klingen,
Das einst die Liebste sang,
[So will mir die Brust]1 zerspringen
[Vor]2 wildem [Schmerzendrang.]3

[Es treibt mich]4 ein dunkles Sehnen
Hinauf [zur]5 Waldeshöh',
Dort löst sich auf in Tränen
Mein übergroßes Weh'.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 145.

1 Meyerbeer: "Will mir das Herz"
2 Schumann: "Von"
3 Franz, Hinrichs: "Schmerzensdrang"
4 Meyerbeer: "Mich treibt"
5 Hinrichs: "zu der"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
2. I hear the dear song sounding
Language: English 
I hear the dear song sounding
That once my beloved sang.
And my heart wants to burst so strongly
From the savage pressure of pain.

A dark longing is driving me
Up into the heights of the woods
Where in my tears can be dissolved
My own colossal woe.

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.
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 49

Translation © by Paul Hindemith
3. Die Lotosblume ängstigt  [sung text not yet checked]
by Constantin C. von Bach , "Die Lotosblume ängstigt", op. 37 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1895 [ voice and piano ], Petersburg, Bessel & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Lotosblume ängstigt
Sich vor der Sonne Pracht
Und mit gesenktem Haupte
Erwartet sie träumend die Nacht.

Der Mond, [der]1 ist ihr Buhle
Er weckt sie mit seinem Licht,
Und ihm entschleiert sie freundlich
Ihr [frommes]2 Blumengesicht,

Sie blüht und glüht und leuchtet
Und starret stumm in die Höh';
Sie duftet und weinet und zittert
Vor Liebe und Liebesweh.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 119.

1 Loewe: "das"
2 Franz: "holdes"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
3.
Language: English 
The lotus flower is anxious
In the Sun's radiance,
And with hanging head
Waits, dreaming, for Night.

The moon, who is her lover,
Awakens her with his light,
And for him she smilingly unveils
Her innocent flower-face.

She blooms and glows and gleams
And gazes silently upwards;
She sends forth fragrance, and weeps and trembles,
With love and love's torment.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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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Translation of title "Die Lotosblume" = "The lotus flower"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 60

Translation © by Lawrence Snyder
4. Mir träumte von einem Königskind  [sung text not yet checked]
by Constantin C. von Bach , "Mir träumte von einem Königskind", op. 37 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1895 [ voice and piano ], Petersburg, Bessel & Co.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mir [träumte]1 von einem Königskind,
Mit nassen, blassen Wangen;
Wir sassen unter der grünen Lind'
Und hielten uns liebeumfangen.

"Ich will nicht deines Vaters Thron,
Ich will nicht sein Scepter [von]2 Golde,
Ich will nicht seine demantene Kron',
Ich will dich selber, du Holde!"

Das kann nicht sein, sprach sie zu mir,
ich liege ja im Grabe,
und nur des Nachts komm' ich zu dir,
weil ich so lieb dich habe.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 146. Note: modern German would spell "Scepter" as "Zepter" (line 2-2).

1 Kern: "träumte einst"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Weiss: "aus"

by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
4.
Language: English 
I dreamed of a king's daughter
With wet, pale cheeks;
We sat beneath the green linden 
And held each other, full of love.

"I do not want your father's throne,
I do not want his scepter of gold,
I do not want his crown of diamonds --
I want you yourself, you lovely one!"

It cannot be, she said to me :
I lie in my grave,
And only at night do I come to you,
Because I love you so much.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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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This text was added to the website: 2019-08-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 80

Translation © by Emily Ezust