by
Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858)
Seelige Nacht
See original
Language: German (Deutsch)
Noch einmal erklingt ihr Gläser,
Durchglüht von dem purpurnem Wein!
Ein Lied der Kraft und der Freude
Soll hell noch gesungen sein.
Da unten vom dunkeln Strande
Der Schiffer schon ruft: habt Acht,
Nun auf dem schimmernden Saale
In die hehre, die seelige Nacht.
Da liegt, wie im blauen Mantel
Ein schlafender König der Rhein;
Vom Himmelsgewölbe giessen
Die Sterne den milden Schein.
Wohl schweigen Wort und Gesänge,
Doch tief in der Seele erwacht
Das hohe Geheimniß der Liebe
In der heiligen, seeligen Nacht.
So sanft auf den Spiegelfluthen
Wiegt uns der schwebende Kahn;
Mir war, gelehnet an den Liebsten
Als schiff’ er uns himmelan.
So nah dem geliebtesten Herzen
Behorcht’ ich, was still es gedacht;
Es schlug voll unendlicher Treue
In der trauten, holdseeligen Nacht.
...
Fest Hand in Hand geschlossen,
Tief Seele der Seele geeint! –
Da fallen zwei Sterne herunter
Als ob es ein Engel beweint’
Mit leuchtenden Himmelsthränen
Daß irdischen Glückes Pracht
Ach, immer zu bald uns entschwebet
Wie die seelige, seelige Nacht.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,6 of the original text.
Composition:
Set to music by Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Seelige Nacht", op. 18 no. 4, published 1843, stanzas 1-3,6 [ voice and piano ]
Text Authorship:
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Anja Bunzel) , "Blessed night", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Anja Bunzel
This text was added to the website: 2014-07-24
Line count: 48
Word count: 247
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Once again, clink the glasses,
Full of red wine!
A song of strength and happiness
Shall be sung brightly
In the gleaming hall.
The captain shouts: ‘Watch out’,
From the dark river bank
During the noble, blessed night.
Blue-coated, the river Rhine
Sleeps like a king;
The stars are sparkling
Mildly from the sky.
No words and no singing, all silent,
But, deep in the soul, awakes
The great secret of love
During the sacred, blessed night.
The floating tub cradles us
Over the reflective floods;
Leaning against my beloved,
I feel I am moving skywards.
So close to the beloved’s heart,
I listen to what it had to say;
A beat of eternal faith
During the intimate, blessed night.
...
Hand in hand,
Having united our souls! –
Two stars are falling down
As if an angel had cried a
Bright heavenly tear.
May the joyful glory
Always be with us like
During this blessed, blessed night.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,6 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Anja Bunzel, (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 Johanna Kinkel (1810 - 1858), "Seelige Nacht"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2014-07-24
Line count: 48
Word count: 240