English translation of Herbstgesang

by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Herbstgesang", op. 144 no. 3 (1885) [ TTBB chorus ], from Drei Wettgesänge, no. 3

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

  Still ist's im Wald geworden,
Wo sonst so freudenvoll
Rings von den Tannenborden
Der Vögel Sang erscholl.
  Ach! soll kein Lied verschönen
Dem Lenz den frühen Tod?
Ach! will kein Klang mehr tönen
Mild in des Scheidens Noth?

 ...

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 132.


Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler 
  Nordsturm, komm! entblätt're die Bäume,
Welk sind alle Blumen schon,
Und es flieh'n die letzten Träume, 
Es verklinget der letzte Ton!
  Nordsturm, komm! und brause darein,  
Mach' ein Ende der Sterbenspein! 

 ...

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 130.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull , Johann Winkler 
 ... 

  Kein Vöglein trifft die Weise,
Wie treu's auch blieb dem Wald:
Wie traurig auch und leise
Sein Sterbeslied erschallt.
  Der Sturm nur in den Wipfeln
Der weiss den rechten Ton:
Horch! wie's von allen Gipfeln
Im Chor erbrauset schon!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 132.


Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler 
 ... 

  Nordsturm, komm! in das schweigende Grauen
Brich mit deinem Klagelaut,
Daß nicht länger wir müßen schauen 
Unbejammert die todte Braut!
  Nordsturm, komm! was zögerst du noch?
Brich, ach brich sie, die Stille, doch!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

View text with all available footnotes

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 130.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull , Johann Winkler 
 ... 

  Der selbst die schönen Tage
Begleitet Schritt für Schritt,
Horch! wie in hehrer Klage
Nunmehr er trauert mit!
  Und wie er's muß verkünden
Mit bängstem Schmerzensschrei,
Daß, ach! in allen Gründen
Der Lenz, der Lenz vorbei!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 132.


Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler 
 ... 

  Nordsturm, komm! und des Todes Schrecken
Decke bald mit blankem Schnee,
Kannst die Fluren du nicht mehr wecken,
Birg voll Mitleid doch ihr Weh! 
  Nordsturm, komm! und durch alles Graun, 
Laß zum Trost uns den Himmel schaun!

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 130.


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Melanie Trumbull , Johann Winkler
Author(s): Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
  It has grown quiet in the forest,
Where usually, so joyfully all around,
The birds' singing rang out 
From the border of firs.
  Ah! shall no song beautify
The early death of springtime?
Ah! does no tone wish to sound
Gently into the misery of parting?

 ...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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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Translations of titles:
"Herbstgesang" = "Autumnal singing"
"October. Herbstgesang" = "October. Autumnal singing"



  Storm from the north, come! defoliate the trees,
All the flowers have wilted already,
And the last dreams are fleeing,
The last tones are dying away!
  Storm from the north, come! and roar into it all,
Make an end of the pain of the death!

 ...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View text with all available footnotes

Translations of titles:
"Herbststurm" = "Autumn storm"
"Nordsturm" = "Storm from the north"



 ... 

  No birdlet manages the lay,
No matter how faithfully it remained in the woods:
No matter how sadly and quietly
Its song of dying rings out.
  Only the storm in the treetops
Still knows the correct tone:
Hark! how from all the peaks
It already roars in chorus!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of titles:
"Herbstgesang" = "Autumnal singing"
"October. Herbstgesang" = "October. Autumnal singing"



 ... 

  Storm from the north, come! break into he silent dread,
Break into it with your lamenting sound,
So that we must no longer see
Unmourned the dead bride!
  Storm from the north, come! why do you still hesitate?
Break, ah break the silence, break it!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View text with all available footnotes

Translations of titles:
"Herbststurm" = "Autumn storm"
"Nordsturm" = "Storm from the north"



 ... 

  The storm that itself accompanied 
The lovely days step by step,
Hark! how in lofty lamenting
It now sorrows in sympathy!
  And how it must proclaim
With the most anxious cry of pain,
That, alas! in all the vales
Spring, spring is over!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

Translations of titles:
"Herbstgesang" = "Autumnal singing"
"October. Herbstgesang" = "October. Autumnal singing"



 ... 

  Storm from the north, come! and cover the terror of death
Soon with shining snow,
If you can no longer waken the meadows,
At least conceal their pain with compassion!
  Storm from the north, come! and through all the dread,
Comfort us by letting us see the sky!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

View text with all available footnotes

Translations of titles:
"Herbststurm" = "Autumn storm"
"Nordsturm" = "Storm from the north"



Translation © by Sharon Krebs