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Mein Geist ist trüb' -- o nimm geschwind Die Harfe, die mich stärkt, empor; Von deinem Finger gleitet lind Ihr schmelzend Murmeln an mein Ohr; Wenn Hoffnung nicht dies Herz verlor, Wird [dieser]1 Klang hervor sie locken, Die Thräne, meines Auges Flor, Wird fließen, statt im Hirn zu stocken. Fang' nicht mit Jubelliedern an, Gib Eins, das wild und traurig klingt: Mach', Harfner, daß ich weinen kann, Da sonst mein armes Herz zerspringt, Das immer sich zum Schweigen zwingt, Das sich vom Kummer nährt so lange; -- Nun da der Fluch das Schlimmste bringt, Jetzt bricht es -- oder schmilzt im Klange.
O. Zack sets stanza 1
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Adolf Böttger, Schönheiten aus Byron's Werken, Leipzig: Otto Wigand, 1841, pages 27-28.
1 Sometimes incorrectly given as "diesen."Authorship:
- by Adolf Böttger (1815 - 1870), "Mein Geist ist trüb' -- o nimm geschwind", appears in Hebräische Melodien, no. 9, first published 1841 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "My soul is dark", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 9, adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23, first published 1815
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Carl Georg Peter Grädener (1812 - 1883), "Mein Geist ist trüb", op. 15 no. 1, published 1886 [2 female voices and piano], from Hebräische Gesänge von Lord Byron, no. 1, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Oskar Viktor Zack (1882 - 1963), "Erlöste Tränen", published 1926, stanza 1 [men's chorus a cappella], Zürich und Leipzig: Kommissionsverlag von Gebr. Hug & Co. [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 100
My spirit is dull -- oh quickly take up The harp, which strengthens me; Gently from your fingers glides Its melting murmur to my ear; If this heart has not lost hope This sound shall entice it forth, The tear, the veil of my eyes, Shall flow instead of stagnating in my brain. Do not begin with songs of rejoicing, Play one that sounds wild and sad: Harper, cause me to weep, For else my poor heart shall burst, [My poor heart] that is always forcing itself into silence, That has so long nourished itself on grief; -- Now that the curse brings the worst of all things, Now it must break -- or dissolve in sound.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Mein Geist ist trüb" = "My spirit is dull"
"Mein Geist ist trüb' -- o nimm geschwind" = "My spirit is dull -- oh quickly take up"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2019 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 Adolf Böttger (1815 - 1870), "Mein Geist ist trüb' -- o nimm geschwind", appears in Hebräische Melodien, no. 9, first published 1841
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "My soul is dark", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 9, adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23, first published 1815
This text was added to the website: 2019-02-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 115