English translation of Lied

by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied", op. 15 (Sechs deutsche Lieder) no. 4, published 1848 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Lüftchen, ihr plaudert so viel und so laut,
Hab' euch doch nie ein Geheimnis vertraut!
Nein! ach nein! ich schweige still,
Weil ich ja ewig schweigen will!
 ...

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Note: the published Lang score mentions Byron as the poet, but no candidate for the original has yet been found for this stanza, only for the second stanza of the song. The catalog Periodica musicalia mentions the setting by Georg Müller and attributes these lines to A. de M.; the Gollmick score gives the poet as A. d. M.

Note: Rungenhagen inserts "nein, nein" a number of times with his repetitions of the text of the last line of each stanza.


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 ... 

Vergebens sind ja Schmerz und Thränen
  Für Herzen, die getrennt,
Doch fliegt durch Land und Meer mein Sehnen
  Zum Herzen das mich kennt.

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Confirmed with Taschenbuch der ausländischen Klassiker, in neuen Verdeutschungen, No. 189, Vier und zwanzigstes Bändchen, Lord Byron's Poesien. Aus dem Englischen, übersetzt von Elise von Hohenhausen, geb. von Ochs, Zwickau: im Verlage der Gebrüder Schumann, 1827, pages 118-121. Beneath the title: "Gedichtet den 11ten October 1809, während einer Sturmnacht, nahe der ehemals Pindus genannten Gebirgsreihe, in Albanien, als unsre Wegweiser die Strasse nach Zitza verloren hatten."

Note to Stanza 15, line 1: The published poem contains a footnote identifying "Calypsa's Insel" as "Sizilien."


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Elisabeth Philippine Amalie, Freifrau von Hohenhausen (1789 - 1857), Henriette Eleonore Agnes Gräfin zu Stolberg-Stolberg, née von Witzleben (1761 - 1788), Anonymous/Unidentified Artist 
Little breezes, you murmur so much and so loudly.
Yet I have never entrusted you with a secret!
No! ah no! I remain silent,
Because I plan to remain silent forever!
 ...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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:
"Die plaudernden Lüftchen" = "The chattering little breezes"
"Das Geheimniss" = "The secret"
"Lüftchen, ihr plaudert" = "Little breezes, you murmur"
"Lied" = "Song"

Note: Rungenhagen inserts "nein, nein" (in English: "no, no") a number of times with his repetitions of the text of the last line of each stanza.



 ... 

Pain and tears are for naught
  In hearts that are separated;
Yet my longing soars over land and sea
  To the heart that knows me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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Translation of the note below the title: "Written on 11 October 1809 during a stormy night, close to the mountain range formerly called Pindus, in Albania, when our guides had lost the road to Zitza."

Note to Stanza 15, line 1: The published poem contains a footnote identifying "Calypsa's island" as "Sicily."



Translation © by Sharon Krebs