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Wer hat das erste Lied erdacht, Das in die Lüfte scholl? Der Frühling fand's in lauer Nacht, Das Herz von Wonne voll; Er sang es früh im Fliederbaum Und schlug den Takt dazu: "O Maienzeit, o Liebestraum, Was ist so süß wie Du?" Da kamen Mück' und Käferlein, Waldvöglein sonder Zahl; Sie übten sich die Weise ein, Wohl an die tausend Mal. Sie trugen's durch den Himmelsraum Und durch die Waldesruh: "O Maienzeit, o Liebestraum, Was ist so süß wie Du?" Mir sang's am Bach die Nachtigall, Da ward mir wonnig weh; Nun folgt das Lied mir überall Durch Luft und Blütenschnee. Ich pflück' den Zweig vom Fliederbaum Und sing' es immerzu: "O Maienzeit, o Liebestraum, Was ist so süß wie Du?"
Composition:
- Set to music by Ferruccio Busoni (1866 - 1924), "Wer hat das erste Lied erdacht", op. 31 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 1 (1880), published 1884 [ mezzo-soprano or tenor and piano ], Triest, (Vicentini.)
Text Authorship:
- by Victor August Eberhard Blüthgen (1844 - 1920), "Das erste Lied"
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John H. Campbell) , "Who invented the first song", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , John H. Campbell , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 128
Who devised the first song That rang out into the breezes? 'Twas springtime that found it in the balmy night, Its heart full of bliss; Early on Spring sang it to the lilac tree And beat time to it: "Oh May-time, oh Love’s dream, What is as sweet as you are?" Along came mosquitos and little beetles, Forest birds without number; They practised the melody until they knew it, Well nigh a thousand times. They carried it through the expanses of the sky And through the peace of the forest: "Oh May-time, oh Love’s dream, What is as sweet as you are?" A nightingale sang it to me by the brook, Thereupon I felt so blissfully heartsore; Now the song follows me everywhere Through the air and blossom-snow. I pick a branch from the lilac tree And I sing it incessantly: "Oh May-time, oh Love’s dream, What is as sweet as you are?"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Victor August Eberhard Blüthgen (1844 - 1920), "Das erste Lied"
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This text was added to the website: 2019-12-10
Line count: 24
Word count: 153