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Вчерашняя ночь была так светла. Вчерашняя ночь всё звёзды зажгла так ясно, Что, глядя на холмы и дремлющий лес, На воды, блестящие блеском небес, Я думал: о, жить в этом мире чудес прекрасно! Прекрасны и волны и даль степей, Прекрасна в одежде зелёных ветвей дубрава; Прекрасна любовь с вечно свежим венком, И дружбы звезда с неизменным лучом, И песен восторг с озарённым челом, и слава! Взглянул я на небо, там твердь ясна; Высоко, высоко восходит она над бездной; Там звёзды живые катятся в огне... И детское чувство проснулось во мне; [И думал я: лучше]1 нам в той [тишине]2 надзвёздной!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Arensky: "Я думал: о, лучше"
2 Arensky, Balakirev: "вышине"
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Note on TransliterationsText Authorship:
- by Aleksey Stepanovich Khomyakov (1804 - 1860), no title, appears in Nachtstück, no. 1 [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 Anton Stepanovich Arensky (1861 - 1906), "Вчеращняя ночь", op. 29 (Три дуэты (Tri du`ety) = Three duets) no. 2 [ vocal duet with piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev (1837 - 1910), "Ноктюрн", 1895 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Sergei Ivanovich Donaurov (1839 - 1897), "Вчерашняя ночь" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893), "Вчерашняя ночь", op. 60 (Двенадцать романсов = Dvenadcat' romansov (Twelve romances) = Zwölf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 1 (1886) [ voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
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Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2016, (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: 15
Word count: 99
Last night was so bright. Last night all the stars shined so brightly, That looking at [the] hills and dreaming forest, At [the] water, reflecting the light of the [night] sky, I thought: oh, to live in this world is so beautiful! Beautiful too [are the] wide and rolling steppes, Beautiful, in [a] robe of green, [is the] oak grove; Beautiful [is] love with [its] evergreen garland, And [the] star of friendship with [its] unfading luster, And [the] delight of singing, and glory! I gazed at the sky, there [in the] bright firmament; High, high it ascended over [the] abyss; There lively stars danced in fire… And [a] childlike wish awoke in me; And I thought: better for us [all to be] in that silence among the stars!
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Text Authorship:
- Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2016 by Laura Prichard, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Aleksey Stepanovich Khomyakov (1804 - 1860), no title, appears in Nachtstück, no. 1
This text was added to the website: 2016-06-05
Line count: 15
Word count: 128