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In der Nacht, die die Bäume mit Blüten deckt, Ward ich von süßen Gespenstern erschreckt, Ein Reigen schwang im Garten sich, Den ich mit leisem Fuß beschlich; Wie zarter Elfen Chor im Ring Ein weißer, lebendiger Schimmer ging. Die Schemen hab' ich keck befragt: Wer seid ihr, luftige Wesen? Sagt! "Ich bin ein Wölkchen, gespiegelt im See." "Ich bin eine Reihe von Stapfen im Schnee." "Ich bin ein Seufzer [gen]1 Himmel empor!" "Ich bin ein Geheimnis, geflüstert ins Ohr!" "Ich bin ein frommes, gestorbenes Kind." "Ich bin ein üppiges Blumengewind -" "Und die du wählst, und der's beschied Die Gunst der Stunde, die wird ein Lied."
1 Zumpe: "zum"
Text Authorship:
- by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Liederseelen" [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 Hermann Behn (1857?9 - 1927), "Liederseelen", op. 5 (Vier Gedichte für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4 (1893?), published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Mainz, Schott (with no opus number); published 1896 in Leipzig by Kistner as opus 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Michael Brough (b. 1960), "Liederseelen", op. 12 (Vierzehn Lieder) no. 12 (1997-8) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Kempff (1895 - 1991), "Liederseelen", op. 56 no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Müller-Zürich (1898 - 1993), "Liederseelen", op. 15 (Vier Duette) no. 3 (1928) [ duet for soprano and alto with small orchestra ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Liederseelen", op. 60 no. 2 (1946) [ medium voice and piano ], from Das stille Leuchten: Liederfolge nach Gedichten von Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, no. 2, Wien: Universal Edition [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hermann Zumpe , "Liederseelen" [ voice and piano ], from Fünf Lieder, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Souls of song", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Âmes des chansons", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 107
In the night that covers the trees with blossoms, I was frightened by sweet ghosts: a row of them danced about the garden, into which I was creeping with light feet. Like a delicate elven choir in a ring, a white, living shimmer passed by. The phantoms I boldly asked: "Who are you, airy creatures? Tell me!" "I am a cloud, reflected in the lake." "I am a row of footsteps in the snow." "I am a sigh lifted to heaven!" "I am a secret, whispered in the ear!" "I am a pious, deceased child." "I am a lush wreath of flowers." "And that which you choose, and to which the Hours show their goodwill, will become a new song."
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Liederseelen"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 121