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Frisch auf, ihr Jäger frei und flink! Die Büchse von der Wand! Der Muthige bekämpft die Welt! Frisch auf den Feind! [Frisch in das Feld!]1 Fürs deutsche Vaterland! Aus Westen, Norden, Süd und Ost Treibt uns der Rache Strahl. Vom Oderflusse, Weser, Main, Vom Elbstrom und vom Vater Rhein Und aus dem Donauthal. Doch Brüder sind wir [allzusammen]2, Und das schwellt unsern Muth. Uns knüpft der Sprache heilig Band, Uns knüpft ein Gott, ein Vaterland, E i n treues deutsches Blut. Nicht zum Erobern zogen wir Vom väterlichen Heerd, Die schändlichste Tyrannenmacht Bekämpfen wir in freud'ger Schlacht, Das ist des Blutes werth. Ihr aber, die uns treu geliebt, Der Herr sey euer Schild, Bezahlen wir's mit unserm Blut, Denn Freiheit ist das höchste Gut, Ob's tausend Leben gilt. Drum [muntre Jäger, frei und flink]3, Wie auch das Liebchen weint, Gott hilft uns im gerechten Krieg! Frisch in den Kampf! - Tod oder Sieg! Frisch, Brüder, auf den Feind!
F. Schubert sets stanzas 1-4, 6
J. Lang sets stanza 1
F. Mendelssohn sets stanza 1
Confirmed with Leyer und Schwerdt von Theodor Körner Lieutenant im Lützow'schen Freikorps. Einzig rechtmäßige, von dem Vater des Dichters veranstaltete Ausgabe. Berlin, 1814. In der Nicolaischen Buchhandlung, pages 43-44; and confirmed with Theodor Körner's Gedichte. [Erster Theil.] Neueste Auflage. Wien 1815. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 130-132; there are a few differenes from Zwölf freie deutsche Gedichte von Theodor Körner Nebst einem Anhang. 1813, pages 7-8 (see notes below).
1 Mendelssohn: "Frisch auf den Feind!"2 Körner (1813 edition): "allzusamm'"
3 Körner (1813 edition): "wackre Jäger, flink und frey"; Schubert (Alte Gesamtausgabe): "wackre Jäger, frei und flink"
Text Authorship:
- by (Karl) Theodor Körner (1791 - 1813), "Jägerlied", subtitle: "Nach der Weise: Auf, auf, ihr Brüder und seid stark", written 1813, appears in Leier und Schwert, first published 1813 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Jägerlied", <<1831, stanza 1 [ voice and piano ], the only Lang manuscript found to date consists of only the tenor part in which stanzas 1,3-5 are set [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847), "Jägerlied", c1831, stanza 1 [ men's chorus and 4 horns, 2 trumpets, and 3 trombones ], note: this is an arrangement of Lang's song [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Jägerlied", D 204 (1815), published 1892, stanzas 1-4,6 [ vocal duet ], alternatively: duet for two horns [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Cançó dels caçadors", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Jagerslied", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song of the hunters", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant de chasse", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-09-27
Line count: 30
Word count: 162
Briskly, ye hunters, free and fleet! [Take] the musket from the wall! The courageous one fights the world! Briskly upon the enemy! [briskly into the field!]1 For the German fatherland! From the west, the north, south and east, We are driven by the ray of revenge: From the Oder River, Weser, Main, From the flowing Elbe and from Father Rhine, And from the Danube Valley. But comrades, we are all in this together; And that increases our courage. We are united by the holy bonds of [a common] language, We are united by one God, one fatherland, A faithful German blood. Not in order to conquer did we leave Our father’s hearth; The most despicable tyrannical power We battle in joyful combat. That is worth our blood. Those of you who loved us faithfully, May the Lord be your shield, Should we pay [for victory] with our blood; For freedom is the greatest possession, Even if it requires a thousand lives. Thus, [merry hunters, free and fleet,]2 However much your beloved weeps! God will help us in the righteous war! Briskly into battle! -- death or victory! Briskly, comrades, upon the enemy!
1 Mendelssohn: "Briskly upon the enemy!"
2 Körner, 1813 edition: "valiant hunters, fleet and free"; Schubert: "valiant hunters, free and fleet,"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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 (Karl) Theodor Körner (1791 - 1813), "Jägerlied", subtitle: "Nach der Weise: Auf, auf, ihr Brüder und seid stark", written 1813, appears in Leier und Schwert, first published 1813
This text was added to the website: 2015-01-10
Line count: 30
Word count: 193