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Keine Stimme hör' ich schallen, Keinen Schritt auf dunkler Bahn; Selbst der Himmel hat die schönen Hellen Aeuglein zugethan. Ich nur wache, süßes Leben, Schaue sehnend in die Nacht, Bis dein Stern in öder Ferne Lieblich leuchtend mir erwacht. Ach nur einmal, nur verstohlen Dein geliebtes Bild zu sehn, Wollt' ich gern [im]1 Sturm und Wetter Bis zum späten Morgen stehn. Seh' ich's nicht [schon]2 ferne leuchten? Naht es nicht schon nach und nach? Ach, und freundlich hör' ich's flüstern: Sieh, der Freund ist auch noch wach. Süßes Wort, geliebte Stimme, Der mein Herz [entgegenschlägt]3! Tausend sel'ge Liebesbilder Hat dein Hauch mir aufgeregt. Alle Sterne seh' ich glänzen Auf der [dunkelblauen]4 Bahn, Und im Herzen hat und droben Sich der Himmel aufgethan. Holder Nachhall, wiege freundlich Jetzt mein Haupt in milde Ruh, Und noch oft, ihr Träume, lispelt Ihr geliebtes Wort mir zu.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Ernst Schulze's sämmtliche poetische Schriften. Dritter Band. I. Poetisches Tagebuch. [...] Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus. 1819, pages 89-90; and with Sämmtliche poetische Werke von Ernst Schulze. Neue Ausgabe mit sechszehn Kupfern. Dritter Theil. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus. 1822, pages 90-91.
1 Schubert: "in"2 Schubert: "von"
3 Schubert: "entgegen schlägt"
4 Schubert: "dunklen, blauen"
Text Authorship:
- by Ernst Konrad Friedrich Schulze (1789 - 1817), "Am 5ten März 1815, Nachts um 12 Uhr.", written 1817, appears in Poetisches Tagebuch, vom 29ten Junius 1813 bis 17ten Februar 1817, first published 1819 [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Um Mitternacht", op. 88 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, D 862 (1825), published 1827 [ voice, piano ], Thaddäus Weigl, VN 2696, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
- by J. H. W. Werner , "Um Mitternacht", published 1883 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 1, Krefeld, Schuckert [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "A mitjanit ", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Om middernacht", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "At midnight", copyright © 2003, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "À minuit", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 143
I hear no voice sounding, No footstep upon the dark path, Even Heaven itself has closed Its beautiful, bright eyes. Only I am still watchful, sweet life, I gaze yearningly into the night, Until, in the desolate distance, your star, Beautifully shining, wakens for me. Ah, only once, only surreptitiously To see your beloved image, I would gladly stand in storms and squalls Until late morning! Do I not [already see it shining in the distance]1? Is it not already approaching little by little? Ah, and I hear it whisper graciously: Lo, my beloved is also still awake. Sweet word, beloved voice, Which my pulsing heart greets! Your breath has excited me with A thousand blissful images of love. I see all the stars glittering Upon the dark, blue firmament, And in my heart and on high The heavens have opened. Lovely echo, kindly lull My head to gentle rest, And often still, ye dreams, whisper Her beloved words to me!
Translated titles:
"Um Mitternacht" = "At Midnight"
"Am 5. März 1815, Nachts um 12 Uhr." = "On the 5th of March, around 12 o’clock at night"
1 Schubert: "see it shining from afar"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2003 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 Ernst Konrad Friedrich Schulze (1789 - 1817), "Am 5ten März 1815, Nachts um 12 Uhr.", written 1817, appears in Poetisches Tagebuch, vom 29ten Junius 1813 bis 17ten Februar 1817, first published 1819
This text was added to the website: 2015-09-09
Line count: 28
Word count: 161