Der Spielmann und seine Geige
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: DUT ENG FRE
Vor Gottes Aug', dem Abendrot,
Gab sie mir Ring und Schwur;
Der Ring zersprang, die Treu' ist tot,
Mir blieb die Sehnsucht nur.
Ein Stutzer lockte schmuck und leicht
Mit süßem Flitterton;
Sie folgte, lächelnd ward gereicht
Mein brechend' Herz zum Lohn.
Durch schwarz' Gewölk die Sonne blinkt!
Freud' steht mit Leid im Bund; -
Mein Gram lebt ewig, nimmer sinkt
Sein Thron am bleichen Mund.
Lös', Geige, der Dämonen Schar,
Es winkt mein Zauberstab, -
Stürm, Wahnsinn, dunkles Schlangenhaar,
Sei meiner Leiden Grab!
Doch leise, Äolsharfen gleich,
Besänftigt sie mein Herz;
Ihr Seelenklang, an Balsam reich,
Stillt meinen tiefen Schmerz.
Note: in the version of the Spohr song as sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, there are two changes: stanza 2 line 1 word 4 ("schmuck") is "frech" and stanza 2, line 3, word 5 ("gereicht") is "verschenkt".
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De muzikant en zijn viool", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The musician and his violin", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Le musicien et son violon", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 99
The musician and his violin
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Before the eyes of God, the evening glow,
She gave me a ring and a vow;
The ring broke into pieces, faithfulness is dead,
Yearning is all that is left to me.
A [spruce]1 and shallow dandy tempted her
With sweet, trumpery words;
She followed him; smilingly, my breaking heart
Was given in payment.
Through black clouds the sun blinks!
Joy and sorrow are in league with each other; -
My grief shall live eternally, never
Shall its sovereignty cease about my pale lips.
Dissipate, violin, the throng of demons,
My magic wand waves, -
Rage like a storm, insanity, dark serpent-locks,
Be the grave of my sorrows!
But softly, like an Aeolian harp,
[The violin] soothes my heart;
Its soulful sound, rich in balm,
Quiets my deep pain.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 in the version of the Spohr song as sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau: "brash"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-03
Line count: 20
Word count: 128