by Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs, Harald Krebs

Fee'n‑Reigen
 (Sung text for setting by J. Lang)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Die silbernen Glöckchen
Der Blume des Mays,
Sie läuten zum Reihn.
Herbey in den Kreis,
Ihr schwärmenden Feyn!
Auf! purpurne Flöckchen
Und weiße zu streun!
Wo Mondschein die duftige
    Primel umbebt.
Da werde der luftige
    Reigen gewebt.

 ... 

Die Menschen, gleich Blättern,
Verschwinden sie früh;
In angstvoller Hast
Erbaun sie mit Müh
Den Wolkenpallast;
Im Räumchen von Brettern
Da finden sie Rast.
Wir lachen der grämlichen
    Runzeln der Zeit,
Und bleiben die nähmlichen
    Morgen wie heut!

Wir herrschen in Reichen,
Wo nimmer dein Born,
O Jugend, versiegt.
Die Ros' ohne Dorn
Am Pfade sich wiegt,
Und ewig kein Zeichen
Im Sternenbuch trügt.
Wo Mondschein die duftige
    Primel umbebt,
Da werde der luftige
    Reigen gewebt.

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.

Confirmed with: Friedrich von Matthissons sämmtliche Werke, Erster Band, Gedichte, Erster Theil, Wien: Cath. Gräffer und Härter, 1815, pages 99-100.

Composition:

    Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Fee'n-Reigen", op. 3 no. 4 (1830 or earlier), published 1834, stanzas 1,3-4 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: originally published without opus; designated in 1867 as opus 3

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) (Harald Krebs) , "Fairy dance", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La ronde des fées", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 44
Word count: 150

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The silver bells
Of the flower of May,
They ring, inviting to the dance!
Come into the circle,
You swarming fairies!
Come, strew flakes i.e., petals
Of purple and white!
Where moonlight trembles
    About the scented primrose,
There the airy dance
    Shall be woven!

 ... 

People, like leaves,
Soon disappear
With fearful haste!
They laboriously build themselves
A palace in the clouds!
In a small room made of boards i.e., a coffin
They find rest!
But we laugh at the miserable
    Wrinkles of time!
And remain the same
    Tomorrow as today!

We reign in dominions
Where thy wellspring,
Oh youth, never dries up!
The thornless rose
Sways beside the path,
And eternally no sign
In the book of stars shall deceive.
Where moonlight trembles
    About the scented primrose,
There the airy dance
    Shall be woven!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3-4 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 44
Word count: 182