by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776)
Translation © by Lau Kanen

Die Mainacht
 (Sung text for setting by J. Brahms)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE HEB HEB ITA ITA SPA
Wann der silberne Mond durch die Gesträuche blinkt,
Und sein schlummerndes Licht über den Rasen streut,
  Und die Nachtigall flötet,
    Wandl' ich traurig von Busch zu Busch.

 ... 

Überhüllet von Laub, girret ein Taubenpaar
Sein Entzücken mir vor; aber ich wende mich,
  Suche dunklere Schatten,
    Und die einsame Thräne rinnt.

Wann, o lächelndes Bild, welches wie Morgenroth
Durch die Seele mir stralt, find' ich auf Erden dich?
  Und die einsame Thräne
    Bebt mir heisser die Wang' herab.

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

Composition:

    Set to music by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Die Mainacht", op. 43 no. 2, published 1869, stanzas 1,3-4 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Jaroslav Kalina) , "Májová noc"
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright © 2019
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • HEB Hebrew (עברית) (Max Mader) (Tsippora Samberg) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • HEB Hebrew (עברית) [singable] (Hamutal Atariah) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Notte di maggio", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "La notte di maggio", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Alvaro De la Cruz) , "La noche de mayo", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 107

Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Als de zilveren maan door de begroeiing schijnt
En haar slaperig licht over het grasveld strooit,
En de nachtegaal trillert,
Wandel ik treurig van bos naar bos.

 ... 

Overschaduwd door loof koert mij een duivenpaar
Zijn verrukking in 't oor; maar ik wend mij af,
Zoek naar donkerder schaduw,
En het eenzame traantje vloeit.

Wanneer, glimlachend beeld, dat als een morgenrood
Mij de ziel zacht doorstraalt, vind ik op aarde jou?
En het eenzame traantje
Beeft nog heter neer langs mijn wang.!

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

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2010 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


    If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to:


Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2010-05-30
Line count: 16
Word count: 105