by Hugo Hofmann, Edler von Hofmannsthal (1874 - 1929)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Vorfrühling
 (Sung text for setting by J. Müller-Hermann)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE ITA
Es läuft der Frühlingswind
Durch kahle Alleen,
Seltsame Dinge sind
In seinem Wehen.

Er hat sich gewiegt,
Wo Weinen war,
Und hat sich geschmiegt
In zerrüttetes Haar.

Er schüttelt nieder
Akazienblüten
Und kühlt die Glieder,
Die atmend glühten.

 ... 

Durch die glatten
Kahlen Alleen
Treibt sein Wehen
Blasse Schatten

Und den Duft,
Den er gebracht,
Von wo er gekommen
Seit gestern nacht.

Lippen im Lachen
Hat er berührt,
Die weichen und wachen
Fluren durchspürt.

Er glitt durch die Flöte,
Als schluchzender Schrei,
An dämmernder Röte
Flog er vorbei.

Er flog mit Schweigen
Durch flüsternde Zimmer
Und löschte im Neigen
Der Ampel Schimmer.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,8-9,4-6 of the original text.

Note: the ONB has three handwritten scores of Müller-Hermann's op. 32 no. 1; copy 1 & 2 use Hugo von Hofmannsthal's "Vorfrühling" as shown above, while in the third copy the title "Vorfrühling" is struck out and replaced by "Am Strand". The text is not struck out, but under it is written in red ink another text, perhaps by the composer. This title and first line matches the entry in the 1939 Musikalisch-literarischer Monatsbericht published by Hofmeister for op. 32 no. 1, so we have included it in the opus and have added the letter 'a' to distinguish it from the text above. We have also added the letter 'b' to the "Vorfrühling" setting's opus information.

Composition:

    Set to music by Johanna Müller-Hermann (1878 - 1941), "Vorfrühling", op. 32 no. 1b, stanzas 1-3,8-9,4-6 [ high voice and piano ], note: we have added the letter b to this title because there is a manuscript of the same music with a different text and title

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Early spring", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Avant printemps", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Annuncio di primavera", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Christoph Gaiser , Johann Winkler

This text was added to the website: 2007-06-04
Line count: 36
Word count: 120

Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
The springtime wind is running
Through bare, tree-lined roads,
Curious things are
In its blowing.

It rocked itself 
Where there was weeping.
And nestled up to
Disordered hair.

It shook down
Acacia blossoms
And cooled the limbs
That glowed, breathing heavily.

 ... 

Through the smooth,
Bare, tree-lined roads,
Its blowing chases 
Pale shadows

And the scent 
That it brought
From whence it came
Since yesterday night.

It touched
Laughing lips,
It felt its way through
The soft and watchful leas.

It glided through the flute
As a sobbing cry,
It flew past
Dawning redness.

Silently it flew 
Through whispering rooms
And, inclining itself, extinguished
The shimmer of the lamp.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,8-9,4-6 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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.
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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2024-07-13
Line count: 36
Word count: 124