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Evening scenes
Song Cycle by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903)
View original-language texts alone: Abendbilder
Friedlicher Abend senkt sich aufs Gefilde; Sanft entschlummert Natur, um ihre Züge Schwebt der Dämmerung zarte Verhüllung, und sie Lächelt die Holde; Lächelt, ein schlummernd Kind in Vaters Armen, Der voll Liebe zu ihr sich neigt, sein göttlich Auge weilt auf ihr, und es weht sein Odem Über ihr Antlitz.
Text Authorship:
- by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Oden, in Abendbilder, no. 1
See other settings of this text.
Peaceful evening sinks down upon the land; Gently Nature begins to slumber. Around her floats the tender cover of dusk, And the lovely one smiles, Smiles like a slumbering child in its father's arms, As he, full of love, bends down to her. His divine eyes linger upon her, and his breath wafts Across her face.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Oden, in Abendbilder, no. 1
Go to the general single-text view
Translation of title "Friedlicher Abend" = "Peaceful evening"This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 56
Schon zerfließt das ferne Gebirg mit Wolken In ein Meer; den Wogen entsteigt der Mond, er Grüßt die Flur, entgegen ihm grüßt das schönste Lied Philomelens. Aus dem Blütenstrauche, der um das Plätzchen Zarter Liebe heimlichend sich verschlinget: Mirzi horcht am Busen des Jünglings ihrem Zaubergeflöte. Dort am Hügel weiden die Schafe beider Traulichen Gemenges in einer Herde, Ihre Glöcklein stimmen so lieblich ein zu Frohen Akkorden.
Text Authorship:
- by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Abendbild", appears in Gedichte, in 6. Sechstes Buch, in Erste Gedichte
Go to the general single-text view
Already the distant mountains are dissolving with the clouds into a sea; out of the waves climbs the moon. She1 greets the meadow and on the other side, greets the most beautiful song of Philomela2. [It comes] from a bush whose blossoming branches wind round the secret spot of tender love. Against the chest of the youth, Mirzi hearkens to their magic trills. There by the hill the sheep of both graze harmoniously together in one flock; their little bells join in so pleasingly with merry accord.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), "Abendbild", appears in Gedichte, in 6. Sechstes Buch, in Erste Gedichte
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translation revised 01-20-09 with very helpful suggestions by Bertram Kottmann.
1 In German, the moon is masculine
2 here, a metonym for nightingale (in Greek mythology, Philomela was transformed into a nightingale).
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 90
Stille wird's im Walde; die lieben kleinen Sänger prüfen schaukelnd den Ast, der durch die Nacht dem neuen Fluge sie trägt, den neuen Liedern entgegen. Bald versinkt die Sonne; des Waldes Riesen Heben höher sich in die Lüfte, um noch Mit des Abends flüchtigen Rosen sich ihr Haupt zu bekränzen. Schon verstummt die Matte; den satten Rindern Selten nur enthallt das Geglock am Halse, Und es pflückt der wählende Zahn nur lässig Dunklere Gräser. Und dort blickt der schuldlos Hirt der Sonne Sinnend nach; dem Sinnenden jetzt entfallen Flöt und Stab, es falten die Hände sich zum Stillen Gebete.
Text Authorship:
- by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Oden, in Abendbilder, no. 2
See other settings of this text.
It grows quiet in the wood; the dear little singers on the swinging branch, which through the night will bear their new flights, experiment with new songs. Soon the sun begins to descend; the giants of the wood lift themselves higher into air, so that with the evening's fluttering roses they may wreathe their heads. Already the meadow is silent; only seldom can you hear the ringing from their necks, and their choosy teeth pick casually only the darker grass. And there the guileless herdsman gazes pensively after the sun; flute and stick now drop from the reflecting man's hands and he folds them for a silent prayer.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Nikolaus Lenau (1802 - 1850), no title, appears in Gedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Oden, in Abendbilder, no. 2
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 109