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Windes Rauschen, Gottes Flügel, Tief in kühler Waldesnacht; Wie der Held in Rosses Bügel, Schwingt sich des Gedankens Macht. Wie die alten Tannen sausen, Hört man Geistes Wogen brausen. Herrlich ist der Flamme Leuchten In des Morgenglanzes [Roth]1, Oder die das Feld [befeuchten]2, Blitze, schwanger oft von Tod. Rasch die Flamme zuckt und lodert, Wie zu Gott hinaufgefodert. Ewig's Rauschen sanfter Quellen Zaubert Blumen aus dem Schmerz, Trauer doch in linden [Wellen]3 Schlägt uns lockend an das Herz; Fernab hin der Geist gezogen, Die uns locken, durch die Wogen. Drang des Lebens aus der Hülle, Kampf der starken Triebe wild, Wird zur schönsten Liebesfülle, Durch des Geistes Hauch gestillt. Schöpferischer Lüfte Wehen Fühlt man durch die Seele gehen. Windes Rauschen, Gottes Flügel, Tief in [dunkler]4 Waldesnacht, Frei gegeben alle Zügel Schwingt sich des Gedankens Macht, Hört in Lüften ohne Grausen Den Gesang der Geister brausen.
Confirmed with Dichter-Garten. Erster Gang. Violen. Herausgegeben von Rostorf. Würzburg, bei Joseph Stahel, 1807, pages 3-4; and with Friedrich Schlegels sämmtliche Werke. Erster Band. Gedichte. Berlin, bei Julius Eduard Hitzig, 1809, pages 292-293.
Note: There is a posthumous version of an alternative text, an adaption by Ludwig Stark.
Note for Schubert's song, stanza 5, line 2, word 3: in the final repetition, the word "kühler" reverts to the original "dunkler"
1 Schubert: "Thau"2 Schubert: "beleuchten"
3 Schubert: "Tönen"
4 Schubert: "kühler"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Im Walde", first published 1807 [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Im Walde", D 708 (1820), published 1832 [ voice, piano ], A.Diabelli & Co., VN 4016, Wien (Nachlaß-Lieferung 16) [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Ludwig Stark (1831 - 1884) [an adaptation] ; composed by Franz Peter Schubert.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Nit al bosc (Al bosc) ", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Nacht in het woud (In het woud)", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Nuit dans la forêt ( Dans la forêt)", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Notte nel bosco (Nel bosco)", copyright © 2009, (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: 30
Word count: 145
The soughing of the wind, God's pinions, Deep within the cool forest night! As the hero swings himself into the horse's stirrups, The power of thought swings itself. As the old fir trees swish, One hears waves of spirit roar. Glorious is the radiance of the flame In the [red]1 of the shining morning, Or those that bedew the fields, Lightning bolts, often pregnant with death. Rapidly the flame flickers and flares, As if commanded to appear before God. The eternal murmuring of gentle water-springs Magically calls forth flowers from pain, But mourning in gentle [waves]2 Beats beguilingly against our heart; The spirit is drawn far away into the distance By the waves that entice us. The compulsion of life to come forth from the husk, The battle of wild, strong urges Becomes the most beautiful plenitude of love, Calmed by the breath of the spirit. One feels the blowing of creative breezes Passing through one's soul. The soughing of the wind, God's pinions, Deep within the [dark]3 forest night! Loosened from all restraints The power of thought swings itself forth, Hears without horror in the breezes The singing of the spirits roar.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Waldesnacht" = "Forest Night"
"Waldesnacht (Im Walde)" = "Forest Night (In the Forest)"
1 some singers (e.g., Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) use "dew"
2 "" : "sounds
3 "" : "cool"
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 Friedrich von Schlegel (1772 - 1829), "Im Walde", first published 1807
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-20
Line count: 30
Word count: 193