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Schon manche selige Nacht hat über mir geblaut, Doch so wie heut hab ich die Sterne nie geschaut. Die Berge stehen steil mit schroffer Stirn, Ein leises Leuchten geht von Firn zu Firn. Darüber ausgespannt träumt wunderbar Der nahe Himmel rein und sternenklar. Mit mächtigen Lichtern, schweigsam, reich und mild Reiht sich in seligem Reigen Bild an Bild. Ein großer Friede wacht ob ihrem Kranz Und füllt die Seele mir mit kühlem Glanz. So daß das Leben, das weit abwärts treibt Mir nur ein halbvergessenes Gestern bleibt.
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.
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 115-116.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Grindelwald", written 1902, appears in Neue deutsche Lyriker III , in Von Wanderungen, in Hochgebirgswinter, no. 3, 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 Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen (1892 - 1959), "Grindelwald", op. 99 no. 2 (1954), published 1957 [ voice and piano ], from Hochgebirgswinter, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Grindelwald", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Grindelwald", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Grindelwald", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 87
Many a blissful night has already become blue above me, But I have never seen the stars as I see them today. The mountains stand steeply with craggy brow, A quiet gleaming passes from one [alpine patch of] névé1 to another. Spanned above, wondrously dreaming, Are the heavens, so near, pure, and starry. With mighty lights, silent, plentiful, and gentle, Image upon image aligns itself in a blissful roundel. A great peace grows above their wreath And fills my soul with a cool radiance. So that life, which is continuing on far below, Remains for me only a half-forgotten yesterday.
Note: Grindelwald is a village in Switzerland.
1Névé is a particular granular form snow that precedes glacial ice.
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), "Grindelwald", written 1902, appears in Neue deutsche Lyriker III , in Von Wanderungen, in Hochgebirgswinter, no. 3, first published 1919
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-22
Line count: 12
Word count: 101