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by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Mir zittern die Saiten
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT ENG FRE
Mir zittern die Saiten
Und stimmen die Weise an,
Die ich für dich vorzeiten,
Die ich für dich in einem Mai
Aus lauter Glück ersann.

Ich führe den Bogen
So scheu und leis gespannt,
Wie ich ihn [da]1 gezogen,
Da ich [in einer fernen]2 Nacht
Vor deinem Fenster stand.

Mein Herz ist beklommen
Von Liedern andrer Zeit --
Weiß Gott, wie das gekommen,
Daß mir aus deiner Liebe ward
So eitel Weh und Leid.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   J. Marx •   K. Marx 

About the headline (FAQ)

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Hermann Hesse Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 47-48.

1 J. Marx: "dort"
2 J. Marx: "in ferner"

Text Authorship:

  • by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Con sordino", written 1899, appears in Neue deutsche Lyriker III , in An die Schönheit, in Der Geiger, no. 2, first published 1919 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Richard Czelinski (1901 - 1969), "Con sordino", op. 3 no. 2 (1948) [ voice, piano, and violin ], from Der Geiger - Fünf Lieder nach Texten von Hermann Hesse, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Eduard Göttl , "Con sordino", op. 41, published 1911 [ four-part men's chorus and viola or harmonium ] [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Kurt Hessenberg (1908 - 1994), "Con sordino", op. 80 (Acht Lieder) no. 3 (<<1966) [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Artur Hoffmann (1864 - 1931), "Con sordino" [ voice and piano ], from Drei Lieder nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Joseph Marx (1882 - 1964), "Con sordino", 1904, published 1915 [ tenor and piano ], in Lieder und Gesänge, III. Folge, Nr.12 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Karl Julius Marx (1897 - 1985), "Con sordino", published 1916 [ high male voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Hans Nahme , "Con sordino ", 1949 [ voice, violin, and piano ], from Herbstkantate nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 12 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Hans Wolfgang Sachsse (1891 - 1960), "Aria - Con sordino ", op. 17 no. 2 [ baritone, violin, and piano ], from Partita für Violine, Bariton und Klavier auf die Worte des Zyklus "Der Geiger" von Hermann Hesse, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Rudolf Semmler (1904 - 1988), "Con sordino", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für hohe Stimme) no. 2 (1928), published 1942 [ high voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Alfred Stier (1880 - 1968), "Con sordino ", <<1954 [ voice and piano ], from Zwölf Gesänge nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Herbert Thienemann (1884 - 1963), "Con sordino ", published 1931 [ voice and guitar or lute ], from Sonne im Herbst - Lieder zur Gitarre (Laute), no. 42 [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Paul Zoll (1907 - 1978), "Con sordino", published 1959 [ tenor and orchestra ], from Ode an die Musik - Kantate für Soli, Chor und Orchester , no. 2d [sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Con sordino", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Con sordino", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-04-29
Line count: 15
Word count: 75

Con sordino
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Your strings tremble for me
And begin to sound the lay
That I for you long ago,
That I for you once in a May
Created from pure happiness.

I draw the bow [across the strings]
So shyly and gently taut,
As I drew it there
When in a distant night
I stood before your window.

My heart is oppressed
By songs of another time.
God knows how it happened
That your love created for me
Such pure pain and sorrow.

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:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Con sordino", written 1899, appears in Neue deutsche Lyriker III , in An die Schönheit, in Der Geiger, no. 2, first published 1919
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website: 2014-02-17
Line count: 15
Word count: 81

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