Songs after poems by Friedrich Hölderlin

Song Cycle by Viktor Ullmann (1898 - 1944)

View original-language texts alone: Gesänge nach Gedichten von Friedrich Hölderlin

1. Wo bist du?
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wo bist du? trunken dämmert die Seele mir
  Von all deiner Wonne; denn eben ist's,
    Daß ich gelauscht, wie goldner Töne
      Voll der entzückende Sonnenjüngling

Sein Abendlied auf himmlischer Leier spielt';
  Es tönten rings die Wälder und Hügel nach.
    Doch fern ist er zu frommen Völkern,
      Die ihn noch ehren, hinweggegangen.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
1. Where are you?
Language: English 
 Where are you? Where are you? Drunkenly, my soul awakens
 from all your pleasures, I harken now,
 to the golden sounds
  as the enchanting sunbathed-boy
 
 plays his evening-song on the heavenly lyre.
 His song rings through the tinted hills and forests,
 though he is far away from the good folk,
 who still honor him in his absence.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by John H. Campbell, (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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Translated titles
"Dem Sonnengott" = "To the Sun God"
"Sonnengott" = "Sun God"
"Sonnenuntergang" = "Sunset"
"Wo bist du?" = "Where are you?"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 58

Translation © by John H. Campbell
2. Der Frühling
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn auf Gefilden neues Entzücken keimt
Und sich die Ansicht wieder verschönt und sich
An Bergen, wo die Bäume grünen,
Hellere Lüfte, Gewölke zeigen,

O! welche Freude haben die Menschen! froh
Gehn an Gestaden Einsame, Ruh' und Lust
Und Wonne der Gesundheit blühet,
Freundliches Lachen ist auch nicht ferne.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
2. Spring
Language: English 
 When on fields new delight sprouts forth,
 and the appearance becomes more beautiful again,
 and over mountains where trees become green,
 brighter breezes and clouds appear,
 
 oh, what joy human beings have!
 Lonely ones walk happily on shores. Calm and 
 joy and the delight of health blossom;
 joyful laughter is also not far away.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1994 by John Glenn Paton, (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:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 55

Translation © by John Glenn Paton
3. Abendphantasie
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vor seiner Hütte ruhig im Schatten sitzt
Der Pflüger, dem Genügsamen raucht sein Herd.
Gastfreundlich tönt dem Wanderer im
Friedlichen Dorfe die Abendglocke.

Wohl kehren jetzt die Schiffer zum Hafen auch,
In fernen Städten fröhlich verrauscht des Markts
Geschäftiger Lärm; in stiller Laube
Glänzt das gesellige Mahl den Freunden.

Wohin denn ich? Es leben die Sterblichen
Von Lohn und Arbeit; wechselnd in Müh und Ruh
Ist alles freudig; warum schläft denn
Nimmer nur mir in der Brust der Stachel?

Am Abendhimmel blühet ein Frühling auf;
Unzählig blühen die Rosen, und ruhig scheint
Die goldene Welt; o dorthin nehmt mich,
Purpurne Wolken! und möge droben

In Licht und Luft zerrinnen mir Lieb und Leid'!
Doch, wie verscheucht von törichter Bitte, flieht
Der Zauber; dunkel wird's und einsam
 Unter dem Himmel, wie immer, bin ich - 

Komm du nun, sanfter Schlummer! zu viel begehrt
Das Herz; doch endlich Jugend! verglühst du ja,
Du ruhelose, träumerische!
Friedlich und heiter ist dann das Alter.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
3. Evening fantasy
Language: English 
Before his cottage, in the shade, 
the contented ploughman sits, his hearth smoking.
The welcoming evening bells greet a traveler
into the peaceful village.
 
Now the boatmen turn too toward the harbor,
and in far-off towns the merry noise and bustle of the marketplace
die down; in the quiet grove
glitters a comradely meal for the friends.
 
Where then shall I go? Do not mortals live
by wages and work? alternating labor with rest
makes everything well; why then will
the sting of this thorn in my breast never sleep?
 
Up in the evening sky a token of Spring blossoms;
infinite roses blossom and the golden world seems
at peace; o take me there,
purple clouds! and up there
 
into light and air may my love and grief melt away!
But, as if my silly plea had scared it away,
the magic flees; it grows dark. Alone
beneath the sky I stand, as always.
 
Come now, mild slumber! too much does the heart demand;
but finally, youth will burn itself out,
you restless, dreamy thing!
and my old age will be peaceful and serene.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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Translated titles
"Abendphantasie" = "Evening fantasy"
"Am Abendhimmel blühet ein Frühling auf" = "Up in the evening sky a token of Spring blossoms"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 184

Translation © by Emily Ezust