Wartburg Songs

Translations © by Sharon Krebs

Song Cycle by Franz (Ferenc) Liszt (1811 - 1886)

View original-language texts alone: Wartburglieder

1. An Frau Minne
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Erde ist erschlossen,
die Blumen sind entsprossen,
ringsum hat sich ergossen
wonnevoller Blütenduft.
Die Täler all erklingen,
der Sturm kann nicht mehr zwingen
die Vöglein, die sich schwingen
jubelnd in die blaue Luft.

Die Kälte ist geschwunden,
der Mai ist wiederfunden
fröhlich in Maienblüten.
Winter kalt, dich hüte
vor seinem Sonnenscheine!
Lass den in Freuden leben,
der dir sich ganz ergeben,
lebet nur dir alleine,
Liebchen, süss, du Eine,
mit Treuen ich dich meine.

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by Wizlav, Fürst von Rügen (c1265 - 1325)
1. To Lady Love
Language: English 
Earth has unlocked its bosom,
The flowers have sprung up,
All about delightful scents
Have been poured out.
The valleys all resound,
Storms can no longer coerce
The birds, who soar aloft
Rejoicing into the blue sky.

Coldness has vanished,
May has turned up again
Joyfully [clad] in mayflowers,
Cold winter, beware
Of May's sunshine!
Let him live in happiness
Who has given himself utterly to you,
Who only lives for you,
Sweet beloved, you sole one,
With faithfulness you are the one I mean.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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: 2011-04-12
Line count: 18
Word count: 85

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. [I]. Wolfram von Eschenbach. Ritterlich, kräftig
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Als wir mit deutschen Klingen
Geführt manch guten Streich,
Galt auch das erste Singen
Dem Kaiser und dem Reich.
Dem Herrn der Herrn sei Ehre,
Denn Großes ist gescheh'n;
Ich seh' in neuen Farben
Des Reiches Banner weh'n
Und wieder treu beim Kaiser
Thüringens Landgraf steh'n.

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Note (provided by Sharon Krebs): Under the poem are the following words: "(Der Sängerknabe übergiebt einen silberbeschlagenen Prachtband.)" This could be translated "(The choirboy presents a luxury-volume embossed with silver.)". The "Sängerknabe" (choirboy) is the little chap who takes the presents from the various singers and places them in front of the bride.

by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
2. I. Wolfram von Eschenbach. Knightly, strong
Language: English 
When we with German blades
Carried out many a good stroke,
The first of our singing
Was dedicated to the emperor and the empire.
Glory be to the Lord of Lords,
For great things have come to pass;
I see in new colours
The banners of the empire fluttering
And once more beside the emperor
The landgrave of Thuringia standing faithfully.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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Translation of title "[I]. Wolfram von Eschenbach. Ritterlich, kräftig" = "I. Wolfram von Eschenbach. Knightly, strong"



This text was added to the website: 2011-04-12
Line count: 10
Word count: 61

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. [II]. Heinrich von Ofterdingen. Gegen das Brautpaar, weich, fast wehmütig
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Hab' ich geträumt? klang hier nicht meine Laute?
Dort winkt die Halle, der ich einst entfloh.
Dies ist der Pallas, den Fürst Hermann baute,
Und doch so neu, so kunstverjüngt, so froh.

Wie preis' ich Euch, fremdliebliche Gestalten!
Wer ist, den nicht das Glück des Hauses rührt?
Wo wir gekriegt, will Schönheit friedlich walten.
Heil allen, die sie neu hier eingeführt!

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by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
3.
Language: English 
Have I been dreaming?  Did not my lute sound here?
There beckons the hall from which I once fled.
This is the palace that Lord Hermann built,
And yet so new, made so youthful by art, so joyful.

How I praise you, foreign yet beloved beings!
Who would not be moved by the happiness of the house?
Where we battled, beauty wishes to preside peacefully,
Hail to all who introduced her here anew!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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:
"Heinrich von Ofterdingen (Weich, fast wehmütig, gegen das Brautpaar:)" = "Heinrich von Ofterdingen (Limp, almost wistful, toward the bridal couple)"
"II. Heinrich von Ofterdingengegen das Brautpaar. Weich, fast wehmütig" = "II. Heinrich von Ofterdingen toward the bridal couple. Limp, almost wistful."



This text was added to the website: 2011-04-12
Line count: 8
Word count: 73

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. [III]. Walther von der Vogelweide
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Beim Scheiden der Sonne erschimmert
Der Metilstein freundlich und klar;
Dort ragen der Mönch und die Nonne
Versteinert als Felsenpaar.

"Heil, Heil den Neuvermählten!"
Sprach Mönch und Nonne zu mir:
"Wir hoffen, die beiden besuchen
Recht bald unser tannig Revier.

"Da breitet sich ihnen zu Füßen
Ihr Erbland in wonnigem Schein -
Und wenn sie auch wacker sich küssen,
Sie werden d'rum nicht gleich zu Stein."

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by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
4.
Language: English 
In the parting rays of the sun shimmers
The Metilstein castle amiably and clearly;
There loom the monk and nun
Turned to stone as a craggy pair.

"Hail, hail to the newly united ones!"
Spake monk and nun to me;
"We hope the two shall very soon
Visit our domain of pines.

There shall be spread out at their feet
Their ancestral lands in lovely glow -
And should they kiss each other most heartily,
They shall not immediately be turned to stone as a result."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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:
"Walter von der Vogelweide (Melodisch, fröhlich. Minnelied.)" = "Walter von der Vogelweide (Melodic, joyful. A courtly love-song.)"
"III. Walther von der Vogelweide" = "III. Walther von der Vogelweide"



This text was added to the website: 2011-04-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 85

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
5. [IV]. Der tugendhafte Schreiber. Im Kanzler‑Gewand. Seriös. Pedantisch.
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich schrieb allzeit nur wenig,
Doch allzeit tugendhaft,
Und hab die Kleinode verzeichnet,
Die sich der Burgschatz beschafft.

Ich schreib' in meine Register
Mit der Aufschrift: Paula - heut ein:
Der Wartburg ist erworben
Ein neuer Edelstein.

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by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
5. The virtuous scribe. In the garb of a chancellor. Serious. Pedantic.
Language: English 
I always wrote but little,
Yet always virtuously,
And I have documented the treasures
That the castle treasury acquired.

I inscribed into my register
The word 'Paula' today:
The Wartburg has gained
A new jewel.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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: 2011-04-12
Line count: 8
Word count: 35

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
6. [V]. Biterolf und der Schmied von Ruhla
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Thüringens Wälder senden
Den Weidmann und den Schmied,
Brauthuldigung zu spenden
Mit Gaben und mit Lied.

(zur Braut:)
 ... 
Vor hohem Frauenbilde
So tugendlicher Art
Singt Ruhlas Grobschmied milde:
"Jung Landgraf werdet zart!"

(zum Erbgroßherzog:)
 ... 
Doch will's im Westen dämmern
Und streicht ein Feind den Bart,
Herr Major, dann wollen wir hämmern:
"Jung Landgraf, werdet hart!"

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by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
6. Biterolf and the Blacksmith of Ruhla
Language: English 
Thuringia's forests send
The huntsman and the blacksmith,
To bring adulation to the bride
With gifts and with song.

(to the bride:)
Before a lofty image of a woman
Of such a virtuous nature
Gently sings the coarse blacksmith of Ruhla:
"Young landgrave, become amorous!"

(to the Archduke:)
But if certain signs arise in the west
And if the enemy strokes his beard,
Lord Major, then we shall hammer out:
"Young landgrave, steel yourself [for battle]!"

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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: 2011-04-12
Line count: 14
Word count: 76

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
7. [VI]. Reimar der Alte. Morgenständchen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wo liebende Herzen sich innig vermählt,
Hat Reimar, der Alte, niemals gefehlt,
Sein Tagelied hütend zu bringen.
Wenn früh ob dem Bergfried die Sonne ersteht,
Gedenkt er dort Euer im Morgengebet,
Dem Wächter verbeut er zu singen.

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by Joseph Viktor von Scheffel (1826 - 1886)
7. [VI]. Reimar the Ancient. Morning Serenade
Language: English 
Where loving hearts have ardently united themselves,
Reimar the Ancient has never neglected
To present his dawn song solicitously.
When the sun rises early above the tower-keep
He [first]1 thinks of you in his morning prayer;
He forbids the watchman to sing.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Liszt: "there"


This text was added to the website: 2011-04-12
Line count: 6
Word count: 42

Translation © by Sharon Krebs