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Zwar hat der edle deutsche Rhein Fürwahr der guten Berge viel, Aus denen er uns Geist schenkt ein, Bei Sang und Klang, bei Tanz und Spiel. Doch seiner besten Berge Glanz, Er kommt nicht gleich an hellen Schein, Dem Gutenberg des Ruhmes Kranz Er grünt im alten Mainz am Rhein. Von diesem Gutenberg ging Licht In alle Lande leuchtend aus, Das kühn durch finstre Nacht sich bricht, Und ohne Schwert schlug manchen Strauss. Aus seiner Presse quoll ein Most, Der bald die ganze Welt berauscht, Der sie befreit von manchem Rost, Den sie um keinen Wein vertauscht. Vom guten Berg quoll guter Wein In's dunkle Fass. Zieht ihn an's Licht! Sein feurig Sonnengold schenkt ein! Auf! Klingt und trinkt! so will's die Pflicht. Dein dreifach Hoch hier bring' ich aus, Du der durch Druck vom Druck befreist. Hoch Gutenberg! Stosst an, trinkt aus Des guten Berges Feuergeist.1
Note for Taubert's setting: the fourth line of stanza 2 becomes "Ja, kühn schlug manchen Strauss." in the repetition.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Karl Gottfried) Wilhelm Taubert (1811 - 1891), "Hoch Gutenberg", op. 51 ([2] Gutenberg Lieder) no. 1 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Hail Gutenberg", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-06-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 147
To be sure, the noble German Rhine Truly has many good mountains, From whence it pours out spirits for us, To singing and ringing, to dancing and sport. But the brilliance of its best mountains Does not compare in bright radiance To Gutenberg, whose wreath of fame Greens in old Mainz on the Rhine. From this Gutenberg light shone Brightly out into all the lands, [Light] that boldly makes its way through dark night And, without a sword, fought many a fight. From his press there sprang a must (i.e., for wine) That soon intoxicated the entire world, That freed [the world] from much grillwork (i.e., prison) [A must] that it would not exchange for any wine. From the good mountain good wine flowed forth Into the dark vat. Raise it to the light! Pour out its fiery sun-gold! Arise! Clink and drink! thus duty commands. Three cheers for you I proclaim here, For you who through the press frees [us] from oppression. Hail Gutenberg! Clink your glasses, drink to The fiery spirit of the good mountain.1
Translator's notes: This text plays with the words "good mountains (gute Berge)" and the name "Gutenberg", which translates literally as "good mountain."
When stanza 2, line 4 is repeated, Taubert's line changes to something that could be translated as "Yes, boldly fought many a fight."
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by (Johann) Philipp Kaufmann (1802 - 1846)
This text was added to the website: 2016-06-08
Line count: 24
Word count: 177