The minstrel | The minstrel sat upon the heights along the shore

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Der Sänger

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Der Sänger saß auf Ufershöhen,
Tief in dem Busen bittern Harm,
"Die Menschen wollen nicht verstehen,
Was mich bewegt so liebewarm;"
 
"Und was ich hochbeglückt gesungen
Aus vollem tiefen Herzensdrang,
Es ist wohl ungehört verklungen
Im wildbewegten Menschendrang."
 
"Drum will ich von der Erde gehen,
Nimm du mich auf, o stille Fluth,
Vielleicht, daß drüben sie verstehen
Des vollen Herzens Liebesgluth."
 
Er nimmt die Laute in die Arme,
Und preßt sie an den bleichen Mund:
Und schnell verlischt das liebewarme,
Das hohe Herz im Meeresgrund.
 
Die Laute schwamm auf klaren Wogen
Leicht aus der Tiefe aufgeschwebt;
So ist sie freudig fortgezogen
Von leisem Geisterton umbebt.

Confirmed with Frauentaschenbuch für das Jahr 1817 von de la Motte Fouqué, Nürnberg: bei Joh. Leonh. Schrag, pages 239-240

Text Authorship:

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author ( Gr. Szr or Syr or Sze ) , "Der Sänger", first published 1817 [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 Friedrich Oestreich (1800 - 1840), "Der Sänger", published [1817] [ voice and piano ], from Lieder und Gesänge mit Begleitung des Pianoforte , no. 4, Leipzig: Im Commission der Dykischen Buchhandlung; Leipzig: Gedruckt bei Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text not yet checked]

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The minstrel", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2016-01-04
Line count: 20
Word count: 105

The minstrel

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

The minstrel sat upon the heights along the shore,
With bitter grief deep within his bosom;
"People do not want to understand
That which moves me so warmly and lovingly;"
 
"And what I sang in great rapture
From the full, deep urgings of my heart,
It seems to have died away unheard
In the wild turbulence of mankind’s striving."
 
"Therefore I wish to depart from the earth,
Receive me, oh silent floodwaters,
Perhaps over yonder they might understand
The full heart’s glowing love."
 
He takes his lute in his arms,
And presses it against his pale lips:
Und quickly the noble heart, warm with love,
Is extinguished in the depths of the sea.
 
The lute floated upon the clear waves,
Lightly risen from the deep;
Thus it happily passed away over the sea,
A quiet ghostly sound trembling about it.

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "Der Sänger", first published 1817
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2016-01-04
Line count: 20
Word count: 140