Three mixed choruses

Translations © by Sharon Krebs

Song Cycle by Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896)

View original-language texts alone: Drei gemischte Chöre

1. Abendfeier in Venedig
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ave Maria! Meer und Himmel ruh'n,
Von allen Türmen hallt der Glocken Ton, 
Ave Maria! Laßt vom ird'schen Tun,
Zur Jungfrau betet, zu der Jungfrau Sohn,
Des Himmels Scharen selber knieen nun
Mit Lilienstäben vor des Vaters Thron,
Und durch die Rosenwolken wehn die Lieder
Der sel'gen Geister feierlich hernieder.

 ...

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
1. Ave Maria!
Language: English 
Ave Maria! Sea and heaven are resting,
From every tower echoes the sound of bells,
Ave Maria! Leave off your earthly endeavours,
Pray to the Virgin, to the Virgin's son,
The hosts of Heaven themselves are now kneeling
With staves of lilies before the Father's throne,
And through the rosy clouds the songs
Of the blessed spirits waft solemnly down [toward earth].

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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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This text was added to the website: 2008-06-15
Line count: 16
Word count: 113

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Vorwärts
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Lass das Träumen, lass das Zagen,
Unermüdet wandre fort!
Will die Kraft dir schier versagen,
'Vorwärts' ist das rechte Wort.

Darfst nicht weilen, wenn die Stunde
Rosen dir entgegenbringt,
Wenn dir aus des Meeres Grunde
Die Sirene lockend singt.

Vorwärts, vorwärts! Im Gesange
Ringe mit dem Schmerz der Welt,
Bis auf deine heisse Wange
Goldner Strahl von oben fällt,

Bis der Kranz, der dichtbelaubte,
Schattig deine Stirn umwebt,
Bis verklärend überm Haupte
Dir des Geistes Flamme schwebt.

Vorwärts drum durch Feindes Zinnen,
Vorwärts durch des Todes Pein,
Wer den Himmel will gewinnen,
Muss ein rechter Kämpfer sein!

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
2. Onward
Language: English 
Leave off dreaming, leave off hesitating. 
Wander on tirelessly!
When your strength is nearly failing,
'Onward' is the right word.

You must not tarry when the hour
Brings you roses;
When from the depths of the sea
The siren tempts you.

Onward, onward! In song
Wrestle with the pain of the world,
Until upon your burning cheek
Falls a golden beam from above.

Until the wreath, thick with leaves,
Weaves about and shadows your brow. 
Until your head is transfigured
By the flame of the spirit hovering above it.

Onward then through the foe's battlements,
Onward through the pain of death,
Those who wish to win [entrance to] Heaven,
Must be true warriors!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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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This text was added to the website: 2008-06-07
Line count: 20
Word count: 113

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Gondoliera
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht
Wandelt das Sternenheer,
Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht
Die Gondel übers Meer.
Die Luft ist weich wie Liebesscherz,
Sanft spielt der goldne Schein,
Die Zither klingt und zieht dein Herz
Mit in die Lust hinein.
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht
Wandelt das Sternenheer,
Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht
Die Gondel übers Meer.

Dies ist für sel'ge Lieb' die Stund,
Liebchen, o komm und schau,
So friedlich strahlt des Himmels Rund,
Es schläft des Meeres Blau.
Und wie es schläft, so sagt der Blick,
Was nie die Zunge spricht,
Das Auge zieht sich nicht zurück,
zurück die Seele nicht
O komm zu mir, wenn durch die Nacht
Wandelt das Sternenheer,
Dann schwebt mit uns in Mondespracht
Die Gondel übers Meer.

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by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
3. Gondola song
Language: English 
Oh come to me, when the legion of stars
wanders through the night!
Then, in the glory of moonlight,
the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!
The air is as soft as love's teasing,
the golden glow is playing gently. 
The zither sounds and draws your heart
along with it into joy. 
Oh come to me, when the legion of stars
wanders through the night!
Then, in the glory of moonlight,
the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!

[This is the blessed hour of love!]1
My darling, oh come and see!
The heavenly vault is glowing so peacefully,
the blueness of the sea is sleeping!
And as it sleeps, [our] glances speak
what [our] lips never dare to say. 
[Our] eyes do not retreat,
our souls do not shrink back. 
Oh come to me, when the legion of stars
wanders through the night!
Then, in the glory of moonlight,
the gondola will gently float with us over the sea!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 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: 

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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schumann version: "This is the hour of blissful love!"


This text was added to the website: 2008-06-26
Line count: 24
Word count: 165

Translation © by Sharon Krebs