Drinklied in Mei | Bekrans nu de tonnen

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by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)

Translation © by Lau Kanen

Trinklied im Maÿ

(Sung text for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: CAT DUT ENG FRE

Bekränzet die Tonnen,
Und zapfet mir Wein;
Der Mai ist begonnen,
Wir müssen uns freun!
Die Winde verstummen,
Und athmen noch kaum;
Die Bienlein umsummen
Den blühenden Baum.

 ... 

Zum Mahle, zum Mahle,
Die Flaschen herbei!
Zwein volle Pokale
Gebühren dem Mai.
Er träuft auf die Blüten
Sein Roth und sein Weiß;
Die Vögelein brüten
Im Schatten des Mais.

 ... 

Ihr Jüngling', ihr Schönen,
Gebt Dank ihm und Preis!
Laßt Gläser ertönen
Zur Ehre des Mais!
Es grüne die Laube,
Die Küsse verschließt!
Es wachse die Traube,
Der Nektar entfließt!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,5 of the original text.

Note: This is the version as published by Voß. The initial version of this poem, according to Hölty's manuscript, has two more stanzas and is quite different (see below).

Composition:

Josephine Lang

Text Authorship:

by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Trinklied im Mai", written 1775, first published 1777

See other settings of this text.

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

CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cant bàquic al maig", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Drinklied in Mei", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Drinking song in May", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chanson à boire en mai", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Peter Rastl [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2004-01-12
Line count: 48
Word count: 174

Drinklied in Mei

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: Dutch (Nederlands) after the German (Deutsch)

Bekrans nu de tonnen
En tap mij maar wijn;
De mei is begonnen,
Dus blij moet je zijn!
De winden verstommen
En aad'men met schroom;
De bijen omdrommen
De bloeiende boom.

 ... 

Kom, laat je onthalen,
De flessen er bij!
Twee volle bokalen
Behoren bij Mei.
Hij druppelt zijn bloed en
Kleurt bloesems wit, rood;
De vogeltjes broeden
In Meischaduws schoot.

 ... 

Kom, meiden en binken,
Prijs frank hem en vrij!
Laat glazen nu klinken
Ter ere van Mei!
Het groen overhuive
Het kussen beschroomd;
Laat groeien de druiven
Waar nectar uit stroomt!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,5 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2011 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen. Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com

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Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Trinklied im Mai", written 1775, first published 1777
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This text was added to the website: 2011-03-03
Line count: 48
Word count: 179