English translation of Auf Flügeln des Gesanges

by Oscar Strasnoy (b. 1970), "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges" [ duet for soprano and tenor with piano ], from Heine, no. 5

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Auf Flügeln des Gesanges,
Herzliebchen, trag ich dich fort,
Fort nach den Fluren des Ganges,
Dort weiß ich den schönsten Ort;

Dort liegt ein [rotblühender]1 Garten
Im stillen Mondenschein,
Die Lotosblumen erwarten
Ihr trautes Schwesterlein.

Die Veilchen kichern und kosen,
Und schaun nach den Sternen empor,
Heimlich erzählen die Rosen
Sich duftende Märchen ins Ohr.

Es hüpfen herbei und lauschen
Die frommen, klugen Gazelln,
Und in der Ferne rauschen
Des [heiligen]2 Stromes Well'n.

Dort wollen wir niedersinken
Unter dem Palmenbaum,
Und Liebe und Ruhe trinken,
Und träumen seligen Traum.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 117.

1 Lachner: "blühender"
2 Mendelssohn: "heilgen"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor] 
Ich will meine Seele tauchen
In den Kelch der Lilie hinein;
Die Lilie soll [klingend]1 hauchen
Ein Lied von der Liebsten mein.

Das Lied soll [schauern]2 und beben
Wie der Kuß von ihrem Mund,
Den sie mir einst gegeben
In wunderbar süßer Stund'.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 115.

1 Raif: "klingen und"
2 Raif: "schau'rn"

Research team for this page: René Slot , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler 
[Im]1 Rhein, [im]1 [schönen]2 Strome,
Da spiegelt sich in den [Well'n]3
Mit seinem großen Dome
Das [große, heil'ge]4 Köln.

Im Dom da steht ein Bildnis,
Auf [goldnem Leder]5 gemalt;
In meines Lebens Wildnis
Hat's freundlich [hineingestrahlt]6.

Es schweben Blumen und [Eng'lein]7
Um unsre liebe Frau;
Die Augen, die Lippen, die Wänglein,
Die gleichen der Liebsten genau.

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Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg, 1827, page 120.

Note: in the first version of the poem, Heine has "heiligen" in stanza 1, line 1, word 4.

1 Hollmann, Urspruch: "Am" / "am"; further changes may exist for Hollmann's setting, not shown above.
2 Schumann, Franz: "heiligen"
3 Liszt: "Wellen"
4 Liszt, Urspruch: "große, das heilige"
5 Franz: "goldenem Grunde"; Urspruch: "goldenes Leder"
6 Urspruch: "herein gestrahlt"
7 Ender: "Eng'lein"

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Pierre Mathé [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
On wings of song,
my love, I'll carry you away
to the fields of the Ganges
Where I know the most beautiful place.

There lies a red-flowering garden,
in the serene moonlight,
the lotus-flowers await
Their beloved sister.

The violets giggle and cherish,
and look up at the stars,
The roses tell each other secretly
Their fragant fairy-tales.

The gentle, bright gazelles,
pass and listen;
and in the distance murmurs
The waves of the holy stream.

There we will lay down,
under the palm-tree,
and drink of love and peacefulnes
And dream our blessed dream.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Marty Lucas, (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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I want to delve my soul
Into the cup of the lily;
The lily should give resoundingly
A song belonging to my beloved.

The song should shudder and tremble
Like the kiss from her lips
That she once gave me
In a wonderfully sweet hour.

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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In the Rhine, in the holy stream
Is it mirrored in the waves -
With its great cathedral -
That great, holy city Cologne.

In the Cathedral stands an image
Painted on golden leather;
Into the wildness of my life
Has it shone, friendly.

Flowers and little cherubs hover
Around our beloved Lady;
The eyes, the lips, the cheeks--
They match my beloved's exactly.

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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Translation © by Paul Hindemith, Marty Lucas