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Wie glänzt der helle Mond so kalt und fern,
Doch ferner schimmert meiner Schönheit Stern!
Wohl rauschet weit von mir des Meeres Strand,
Doch weiterhin liegt meiner Jugend Land!
Ohn Rad und Deichsel gibt's ein Wägelein,
Drin fahr ich bald zum Paradies hinein.
...
Dort sitzt Gott Vater, der den Heilgen Geist
Aus seiner Hand mit Himmelskörnern speist.
In einem Silberschleier sitz ich dann
Und schaue meine weißen Finger an.
Sankt Petrus aber gönnt sich keine Ruh,
Hockt vor der Tür und flickt die alten Schuh.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,5-7 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Christian Sinding (1856 - 1941), "Wie glänzt der helle Mond so kalt und fern", op. 1 no. 5 (1885), published 1890, stanzas 1-3,5-7 [ high voice and piano ], from Alte Weisen - Sechs Lieder, no. 5
Text Authorship:
- by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Wie glänzt der helle Mond", appears in Neuere Gedichte, in Vermischte Gedichte, in Alte Weisen, no. 11
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "How coldly and distantly the moon gleams!", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- TUR Turkish (Türkçe) (Gül Sabar) , "Ay nasıl da parlıyor öyle soğuk ve uzak", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 100
How coldly and distantly the moon gleams!
Yet even more distantly does my sweetheart's star shine!
The lake's shore roars far from me
yet even farther lies the land of my youth!
There is a small cart without wheels or shafts -
in it I will soon travel to Paradise.
...
There sits God the Father, who feeds the holy ghost
from his hand with heavenly corn.
In a silver veil will I then sit
and gaze at my white fingers.
Saint Peter, however, will allow himself no rest,
crouching by the door and repairing his old shoes.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,5-7 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust, (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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gottfried Keller (1819 - 1890), "Wie glänzt der helle Mond", appears in Neuere Gedichte, in Vermischte Gedichte, in Alte Weisen, no. 11
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 113