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Noch einmal tön', o Harfe, Die nur Gefühle tönt! Verhalle zart und leise Noch jene Schwanenweise, Die auf der Fluth des Lebens Uns mit der Noth versöhnt! Im Morgenschein des Lebens Erklangst du rein und hell! Wer kann den Klang verwahren? Durch Forschen und Erfahren Verhallet' und versiegte Des Liedes reiner Quell. In spätern Jugendjahren Hallt es schon zart und bang, Wie Finkenschlag im Merze; Mit des Entknospens Schmerze Erbeben Herz und Saiten Voll Liebe und Gesang! Am Sommertag des Lebens Verstummt das Saitenspiel! Aus sehnsuchtsvoller Seele Lockts noch, wie Philomele, Schon seltner, aber rührend, Nur Schwermuth und Gefühl. O schlag' im [dunkeln]1 Busen Der ernsten Abendzeit! Will um das öde Leben Des Schicksals Nacht sich weben, Dann schlag' und wecke Sehnsucht Nach der Unsterblichkeit!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Gedichte von J.G. von Salis. Neue Auflage. Zürich, bey Orell Füßli und Compagnie. 1808, pages 151-152; and with Gedichte von J. G. von Salis. Neueste Auflage. Wien 1815. Bey B. Ph. Bauer, pages 139-140.
First published in Iris. Ein Taschenbuch für 1806. Herausgegeben von J. G. Jacobi. Zürich, bey Orell, Füssli und Compagnie, pages 275-276, with the title Abschied an die Harfe.
1 Salis-Seewis (1806 edition): "dunklen"Text Authorship:
- by Johann Gaudenz Freiherr von Salis-Seewis (1762 - 1834), "Abschied von der Harfe", written 1806?, first published 1806 [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 August Harder (1775 - 1813), "An die Harfe", c1814 [ vocal duet with guitar ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Abschied von der Harfe", D 406 (1816), published 1887 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Afscheid van de harp", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Farewell to the harp", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Adieux à la harpe", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 126
Sing once more, o harp, sing only what we feel! Die away tenderly and softly in this swan-song that on the tide of life reconciles us to misery. In the morning light of life you resounded pure and bright! Who can preserve the sound? By experiencing life we dry up the pure source of the song. In the later years of youth it echoes, already tender and timid, like the singing of finches in March; with the pain of buds falling off, the heart and the strings thrill, full of love and song! In the summertime of life, the play of strings falls silent! Out of our soul full of yearning it entices us yet, like Philomela, already more seldom, but evoking only gloom and sentiment. O resound in the dark breast at somber evening time! When barren life is enfolded by fate, then play, and awaken our yearning for immortality!
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,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Gaudenz Freiherr von Salis-Seewis (1762 - 1834), "Abschied von der Harfe", written 1806?, first published 1806
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 30
Word count: 152