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Schaut der Mond so lachend nieder, Weil die Erde nun so schön? Oder lacht hinauf die Erde Zu dem Glanz der Himmelshöhn? Schweigt im Baum das laue Lüftchen, Weil der Amsel Lied erklang? Oder preist die hehre Stille Hold des Vogels Nachtgesang? Duften lieblicher die Rosen, Weil der Thau herniedersinkt? Oder sinkt er in die Kelche, Weil der Rose Pracht ihm winkt? Rauscht der Brunnen so melodisch, Weil ihn traf der Mondenstrahl? Oder hat der Mondschein lächelnd Seinen Freund gesucht im Thal? Ach, schlägt dir mein Herz entgegen, Sommermondnacht, traute du? Oder bringst du friedestrahlend Selber freundlich mir die Ruh? -- Eins ist Erd' und Himmel worden, Eins nur Glanz und Duft und Klang, Und vereint hallt all die Wonne Durch die Mondnacht im Gesang.
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874, mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 116-117.
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Sommermondnacht", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 132 [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 Moritz Hauptmann (1792 - 1868), "Sommermondnacht", op. 55 (6 Lieder aus Fr. Osers Naturliedern für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 5, published 1864 [ four-part men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Sieber (1822 - 1895), "Sommermondnacht", op. 72 no. 5, published 1864 [ medium voice and piano ], from Sechs Naturlieder von Fr. Oser, für mittlere Stimme , no. 5, Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Moonlit summer night", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-10-03
Line count: 24
Word count: 125
Does the moon gaze down so smilingly Because the earth is now so fair? Or does the earth smile up To the radiance of the heavenly heights? Does the warm breeze fall silent in the tree Because the blackbird’s song rang out? Or does the noble silence beautifully Praise the night-song of the bird? Do the roses emit a more beautiful scent Because the dew is falling? Or does the dew fall into the calyx Because the glory of the rose is beckoning to it? Does the wellspring murmur so melodiously Because it has been struck by the moonbeam? Or did the moonlight smilingly Seek its friend in the valley? Ah, does my heart beat toward you, Summer moonlit night, you lovely one? Or, radiating peace, do you Yourself bring me rest? -- Earth and heaven have become one, Radiance and scent and sound are only one, And, unified, all the bliss resounds Through the moonlit night in song.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Sommermondnacht", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 132
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-16
Line count: 24
Word count: 159