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Three Songs for Contralto and String Quartet

Song Cycle by Karl Weigl (1881 - 1949)

View original-language texts alone: Drei Gesänge für Altstimme und Streichquartett

1. Sommers Tod
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Sonne sinkt.
Es kommt die Nacht
und Dunst und Dampf
legt weich und sacht
die kühle Hand
auf Wies und Feld,
auf Blum' und Gras.
Nun ruht sich aus
die müde Welt
von Schweiß und Glut.
Still träumt das Feld
von reifer Saat
und Überfluß -
Da klingt die Sens!
Mit Pink und Pauk
und hellem Klang
läuft's kalt und hart
das Feld entlang,
mit steifem Schritt
den Blumenpfad
geht still der Tod.
In Tränen steht,
was reift und blüht:
wird's wieder Tag
wenn Sonn' aufglüht,
mit voller Kraft
mit einem Schlag
mäht rauh der Tod.
Solch' Tod ist hart.

Text Authorship:

  • by Karl Wagenfeld (1869 - 1939)

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by Karl Wagenfeld (1869 - 1939)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. Liebesode
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Arm der Liebe schliefen wir selig ein,
Am offnen Fenster lauschte der Sommerwind,
Und unsrer Atemzüge Frieden 
Trug er hinaus in die helle Mondnacht. --

Und aus dem Garten tastete zagend sich 
Ein Rosenduft an unserer Liebe Bett
Und gab uns wundervolle Träume,
Träume des Rausches -- so reich an Sehnsucht!

Text Authorship:

  • by Otto Erich Hartleben (1864 - 1905), no title, appears in Meine Verse 1883-1904

See other settings of this text.

by Otto Erich Hartleben (1864 - 1905)
2. Love ode
Language: English 
In the arms of love we fell blissfully asleep;
at the open window the summer wind listened
and carried the peacefulness of our breath 
out into the bright, moonlit night.

And out of the garden, feeling its way randomly,
the scent of roses came to our bed of love
and gave us wonderful dreams,
dreams of intoxication, rich with yearning.

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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Otto Erich Hartleben (1864 - 1905), no title, appears in Meine Verse 1883-1904
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

Translation of title "Liebesode" = "Love ode"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 60

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Hexenlied
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Die Schwalbe fliegt,
Der Frühling siegt,
Und spendet uns Blumen zum Kranze!
Bald huschen wir 
Leis' aus der Thür,
Und fliegen zum prächtigen Tanze!

  Ein schwarzer Bock,
Ein Besenstock,
Die Ofengabel, der Wocken,
Reißt uns geschwind,
Wie Blitz und Wind,
Durch sausende Lüfte zum Brocken!

  Um Beelzebub
Tanzt unser Trupp
Und küßt ihm die kralligen Hände!
Ein Geisterschwarm
Faßt uns beim Arm,
Und schwinget im Tanzen die Brände!

  Und Beelzebub
Verheißt dem Trupp
Der Tanzenden Gaben auf Gaben:
Sie sollen schön
In Seide gehn
Und Töpfe voll Goldes sich graben!

  Ein Feuerdrach'
Umflieget das Dach,
Und bringet uns Butter und Eier!
Die Nachbarn dann seh'n
Die Funken wehn,
Und schlagen ein Kreuz vor dem Feuer!

  Die Schwalbe fliegt,
Der Frühling siegt,
Und Blumen entblühn um die Wette!
Bald huschen wir 
Leis' aus der Thür,
Juchheissa zum prächtigen Tanze!

Text Authorship:

  • by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Hexenlied"

See other settings of this text.

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)
3. Witches' song
Language: English 
The swallows are flying,
Spring has prevailed,
And is giving us flowers for our wreaths.
Soon we will flit 
Softly out of the door
And fly to the glorious dance!
 
A black goat, 
A broomstick,
The oven fork, the distaff,
Snap us along swiftly 
Like lightning and wind,
Through roaring winds to Brocken.
 
Around Beelzebub 
Our coven dances
And kisses him on his clawed hands.
A bevy of ghosts 
Seizes us by the arm
Swinging torches in the dance.
 
And Beelzebub 
Promises the coven
of dancers gifts upon gifts:
They will be beautiful 
Walking in silk,
And they will dig up pots full of gold.
 
A fire-breathing dragon flies 
Around the roof
And brings us butter and eggs.
The neighbours [see]1 
Sparks blowing
And they cross themselves against the fire.
 
The swallows are flying,
Spring has prevailed,
[And flowers rival each other in blooming]2.
Soon we will flit 
Softly out of the door;
[And leave the men in bed]3!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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.
    licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Hexenlied"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

View original text (without footnotes)

Translation of titles:
"Hexenlied" = "Witches' song"
"And'res Maienlied" = "Another May song"

1 Lang, Mendelssohn, Weigl: "then see"
2 Lang: "The flowers rival each other in blooming"; Mendelssohn, Weigl: "The flowers bloom on the wreath"
3 Mendelssohn, Weigl: "Hurray for the glorious dance!"


This text was added to the website: 2018-10-04
Line count: 36
Word count: 159

Translation © by Emily Ezust
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This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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