Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Ach wie schön ist Carmosenella, Wenn sie tanzt die Tarantella. Seht, wie kann sie die Füßchen schwingen, Wie wenn Heimchen im Grase springen. Ach wie schön ist die Tarantella, Wird sie getanzt von Carmosenella! Seh' ich ihr lachendes Mündchen blitzen, Muß ich im bloßen Hemde schwitzen, Und diese Augen, wie zwei Gestirne, Taumeln machen sie mein Gehirne. Ach wie schön . . . Mag es auch andere Schönen geben, [Stelle nur Carmosenella1 daneben, Und besiehst du bei Licht die Engel, Findest du Mängel über Mängel. Ach wie schön . . . Andrianella, die Manche wohl möchten, Hat nur spannenlange Flechten. Carmosenella's Ringellöckchen Gehn ihr hinab bis über das Röckchen. Ach wie schön . . . Schön ist Annuccia, aber ihr Näschen Gleicht einem stattlichen Ziegenkäschen. Unter Carmosenella's Stirne Sitzt eine Muskatellerbirne. Ach wie schön . . . Cannetella fände wohl Gnade, Doch sie ist braun wie Chocolade. Aber auf Carmosenella's Wangen Siehst du Lilien und Rosen prangen. Ach wie schön ist die Tarantella, Wird sie getanzt von Carmosenella!
M. Bruch sets lines 1-4, 1-2, 12-15, 1-2
Beneath the title: (Napolitanisch)
Confirmed with Paul Heyse, Italienisches Liederbuch, Berlin: Verlag von Wilhelm Hertz (Bessersche Buchhandlung), 1860, page 217-218.
1 Bruch: "Carmos'nella stelle"Text Authorship:
- by Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914), "Carmosenella", appears in Italienisches Liederbuch, in Volksthümliche Lieder, first published 1860 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Italian - Neapolitan (dialect) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Max Bruch (1838 - 1920), "Carmosenella", op. 17 (10 Lieder), Heft 2 (4 weltliche Lieder aus dem Spanischen und Italienischen von E. Geibel und P. Heyse) no. 2, published 1864, lines 1-4,1-2,12-15,1-2 [ voice and piano ], Breslau, Leuckart [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Gustav Schmidt (1816 - 1882), "Carmosenella", op. 47 no. 6, published 1880 [ vocal quartet for male voices ], from Sechs volksthümliche Lieder für vier Männerstimmen, no. 6, Leipzig, Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Carmosenella", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 169
Ah, how lovely is Carmosenella When she dances the tarantella; Look how she can swing her little feet, Just like when crickets leap in the grass. Ah, how lovely is the tarantella When it is danced by Carmosenella! When I see her laughing little mouth sparkle, I start sweating in a mere shirt, And these eyes, like two stars, Make my brain reel. Ah, how lovely . . . Though there may be other lovely girls, [Only place]1 Carmosenella beside them, And when you look at the angels in the light, You find shortcoming after shortcoming. Ah, how lovely . . . Andrianella, whom some might well desire, Has braids that are only as long as a span. Carmosenella's corkscrew curls Hang down below her skirt. Ah, how lovely . . . Annuncia is beautiful, but her nose Is like a substantial goat cheese. [But] under Carmosenella's brow There sits a muscatel pear. Ah, how lovely . . . Cannetella would likely be looked upon favourably, But she is as brown as chocolate. Upon Carmosenella's cheeks, however, You see resplendent lilies and roses. Ah, how lovely is the tarantella When it is danced by Carmosenella!
1 Bruch: " Place Carmos'nella"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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 Paul Heyse (1830 - 1914), "Carmosenella", appears in Italienisches Liederbuch, in Volksthümliche Lieder, first published 1860
Based on:
- a text in Italian - Neapolitan (dialect) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2021-03-14
Line count: 32
Word count: 196