Songs of a maiden

Translations © by Sharon Krebs

Song Cycle by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

View original-language texts alone: Mädchenlieder (Kulmann Lieder)

1. Mailied
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Pflücket Rosen, um das Haar
Schön damit zu kränzen,
Reihe dich, o junge Schar,
Dann zu frohen Tänzen!

 ... 

  Freuet euch, so lang der Mai
Und der Sommer währet;
Nur zu bald sind sie vorbei,
Und der Winter kehret.

  Lange müsst ihr dann auf's neu
Bei der Lampe sitzen,
Und bei ew'gem Einerlei
Saurer Arbeit schwitzen.

  Pflücket Rosen, um das Haar
Schön damit zu kränzen,
Reihe dich, o junge Schar,
Dann zu frohen Tänzen!

 ...

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by Elisabeth Kulmann (1808 - 1825)
1. May song
Language: English 
  Pick roses in order to beautifully
Wreath your hair therewith,
Then arrange yourself, oh youthful folk,
Into joyous dances.

[ ... ]

  Be happy as long as May
And summer last;
They shall be gone only too soon
And then winter comes.

  For a long time then
You must sit anew by the lamp,
And sweat over the eternal monotony
Of weary tasks.

  Pick roses in order to beautifully
Wreath your hair therewith,
Then arrange yourself, oh youthful folk,
Into joyous dances.

[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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: 2010-06-11
Line count: 16
Word count: 89

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Frühlingslied
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Der Frühling kehret wieder,
Und schmücket Berg und Tal;
Schon tönen rings die Lieder
Der süßen Nachtigall.

  Wie steiget hoch die Sonne
In's Himmelblau hinauf,
Verbreitet Lust und Wonne
Auf ihrem weiten Lauf!

  Es eilen Schaf' und Rinder
Der grünen Wiese zu;
Es blickt auf's Spiel der Kinder
Der Greis aus seiner Ruh.

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Confirmed with Sämmtliche Dichtungen von Elisabeth Kulmann, herausgegeben von Karl Friedrich von Großheinrich, Achte, vermehrte Auflage, Frankfurt am Main: Druck und Verlag von H.L. Brönner, 1857, page 7.


by Elisabeth Kulmann (1808 - 1825)
2. Song of spring
Language: English 
  Spring returns
And bedecks hill and valley;
Round about, the songs
Of the sweet nightingale are already ringing out.

  How the sun climbs high
Into the blue heavens,
Scattering delight and joy
On its broad journey!

  Sheep and cattle hasten
Toward the green meadow;
Upon the playing of children
The old man gazes from out of his rest.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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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This text was added to the website: 2010-06-11
Line count: 12
Word count: 59

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. An die Nachtigall
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Bleibe hier und singe,
Liebe Nachtigall!
Dein Gesang erklinge
Schmetternd überall.

  Flur und Waldung lauschet,
Alles hört dir zu;
Nicht ein Blättchen rauschet,
Bleiben all in Ruh.

 ... 

  Hör' ich recht, so brauset
Minder jetzt der Bach,
Da hier Stille hauset,
Läßt sein Toben nach.

  Bleibe hier und singe,
Liebe Nachtigall!
Dein Gesang erklinge
Schmetternd überall.

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by Elisabeth Kulmann (1808 - 1825)
3. To the nightingale
Language: English 
  Stay here and sing,
Dear nightingale!
Your song should ring out
Like a clarion call everywhere.

  Meadow and woodland hearken,
Everything listens to you;
Not a leaf rustles,
All of them remain still.

[ ... ]

  If I discern correctly,
The stream rushes less noisily now,
Since everything is silent here,
[The stream's] tumult abates.

  Stay here and sing,
Dear nightingale!
Your song should ring out
Like a clarion call everywhere.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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: 2010-06-11
Line count: 20
Word count: 91

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. An den Abendstern
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Schweb' empor am Himmel,
Schöner Abendstern!
Sieht im Glanzgewimmel
Jeder dich ja gern.

  Gehn sie auf, gehn nieder
Sie am Himmelsrand,
Keinen deiner Brüder
Schmückt ein solch Gewand.

 ... 

  Schweb' empor am Himmel,
Schöner Abendstern!
Sieht im Glanzgewimmel
Jeder dich ja gern.

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by Elisabeth Kulmann (1808 - 1825)
4. To the evening star
Language: English 
  [Soar]1 aloft in the heavens,
Beautiful evening star!
Among the teeming crowd of heavenly lights
Everyone gladly takes note of you.

  If they rise, if they set
On the rim of heaven,
None of your brothers
Are clad in such a garment [as yours].

[ ... ]

  Soar aloft in the heavens,
Beautiful evening star!
Among the teeming crowd of heavenly lights
Everyone gladly takes note of you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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 Reinecke: "rise"


This text was added to the website: 2010-06-11
Line count: 24
Word count: 125

Translation © by Sharon Krebs