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[Schon]1 fängt es an zu dämmern, Der Mond als Hirt erwacht, Und singt den Wolkenlämmern Ein Lied zur guten Nacht; Und wie er singt so leise, Da dringt vom Sternenkreise Der Schall ins Ohr mir sacht, Schlafet in Ruh'! schlafet in Ruh'! [Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall;]2 Die Liebe Gottes, sie deckt euch zu [Allüberall]2. Nun suchen in den Zweigen Ihr Nest die Vögelein, Die Halm' und Blumen neigen Das Haupt im Mondenschein, Und selbst des [Mühlbachs]3 Wellen Lassen das wilde Schwellen Und schlummern [murmelnd]4 ein. Schlafet in Ruh', schlafet in Ruh'! Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall; Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu Allüberall. Von Tür zu Türe wallet Der Traum, ein lieber Gast, Das Harfenspiel verhallet Im schimmernden Palast, Im Nachen schläft der Ferge, Die Hirten auf dem Berge [Halten]5 ums Feuer Rast. Schlafet in Ruh', schlafet in Ruh'! Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall; Die Liebes Gottes deckt euch zu Allüberall. Und wie nun alle Kerzen Verlöschen durch die Nacht, Da schweigen auch die Schmerzen, Die Sonn' und Tag gebracht; [Lind]6 säuseln die Zypressen, Ein seliges Vergessen Durchweht die Lüfte sacht. [Schlafet in Ruh', schlafet in Ruh'! Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall; Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu Allüberall.]2 Und wo von heißen Tränen Ein schmachtend Auge blüht, Und wo in bangem Sehnen Ein liebend Herz verglüht, Der Traum kommt leis und linde Und singt dem kranken Kinde Ein tröstend Hoffnungslied. Schlafet in Ruh', schlafet in Ruh'! Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall; Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu Allüberall. [Gut']7 Nacht denn, all ihr Müden, Ihr Lieben nah und fern! [Nun]8 ruh' auch ich in Frieden, Bis glänzt der Morgenstern. Die Nachtigall alleine Singt noch im Mondenscheine Und lobet Gott den Herrn. [Schlafet in Ruh', schlafet in Ruh'! Vorüber der Tag und sein Schall; Die Liebe Gottes deckt euch zu Allüberall.]2
F. Abt sets stanzas 1, 4, 6 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
J. Rheinberger sets stanzas 1, 3, 6 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Rheinberger, op. 185 no. 7: "Nun"; further changes may exist not noted above
2 omitted by Abt.
3 Lachner, both settings: "Mühlrads"
4 Lachner, op. 105: "ruhig"
5 Rheinberger, op 131: "Sie halten"
6 Abt: "Und"
7 Lachner, op. 84: "Gute"
8 Abt: "Bald"
Text Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Gute Nacht", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen [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 Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Gute Nacht", op. 73 (3 Gesänge für 4 Männerstimmen (Chor und Solo)) no. 2, published 1851, stanzas 1,4,6 [ vocal quartet for male voices ], Offenbach, André [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Wilhelm Abt (1819 - 1885), "Gute Nacht", op. 95 (4 Duetten für Sopran und Alt mit Pianoforte. 3te Samml.) no. 4, published 1853 [ vocal duet for soprano and alto with piano ], Offenbach, André [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Böie (1822 - 1900), "Gute Nacht", op. 9 (Sechs Gedichte von E. Geibel) no. 6, published 1846 [ voice and piano ], Hamburg, Böhme [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ignaz Brüll (1846 - 1907), "Gute Nacht", op. 68 (Vier Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, W. Hansen [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand von Hiller (1811 - 1885), "Gute Nacht ", op. 37 (Sechs Gesänge für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 4, published 1847 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], Berlin, Guttentag [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Heinrich XIV, Graf Bolko von Hochberg (1843 - 1926), "Gute Nacht", op. 31 (Drei Lieder für 1 hohe Singstimme mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 2, published 1886 [ high voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Hoppe (1869 - 1933), "Gute Nacht", op. 45 (Zwei Männerchöre) no. 2, published 1895 [ soprano and men's chorus a cappella ], Köln, Tonger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Isenmann (1839 - 1889), "Gute Nacht", op. 67 (Vier Lieder für 4 Frauenstimme (Chor oder Soli) ) no. 4, published 1884 [ four-part women's chorus or vocal quartet of female voices a cappella ], Berlin, Ries & Erler [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Gute Nacht", op. 97 (6 Duetten für 2 Singstimmen mit Pianoforte), Heft 1 no. 3, published 1852 [ vocal duet for 2 sopranos and piano ], Mainz, Schott; confirmed with a concert programme booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Gute Nacht", op. 105 (Drei Gesänge für drei Frauenstimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1857 [ vocal trio for female voices with piano ], München, Aibl [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Paul Lachner (1803 - 1890), "Gute Nacht", op. 84 (Sieben Lieder für eine Bass- oder Altstimme mit begleitung des Piano-Forte) no. 4, published 1847 [ bass or alto and piano ], Mainz, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Anton Leu (1886 - 1927), "Abendstimmung", op. 32 (Zwei Lieder für gemischten Chor mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1893 [ mixed chorus and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Simon van Milligen (1849 - 1929), "Gute Nacht ", op. 1 (Vier Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1879 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Amsterdam, L. Roothaan [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Möhring (1816 - 1887), "Gute Nacht", op. 11 (Vier Gesänge für Männerchor) no. 2, published 1843 [ men's chorus ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Martin Reinthaler (1822 - 1896), "Gute Nacht", op. 8 no. 6, published 1856 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Sechs vierstimmige Lieder für Sopran, Tenor, Alt und Bass, no. 6, Cöln (Cologne) : M. Schloss [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Gottlieb Reissiger (1798 - 1859), "Gute Nacht", op. 195 no. 1, published 1857 [ voice and piano ], Elberfeld, Arnold [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Gute Nacht", op. 131 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 6 (1882), stanzas 1,3,6 [ SSAA chorus ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Gute Nacht", op. 185 (Sieben Gesänge) no. 7 (1896) [ TTBB chorus ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Otto Tiehsen (1817 - 1849), "Gute Nacht", op. 9 no. 5, published 1841 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Gedichte von Geibel, Kugler und Chotek [sic], no. 5, Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen's Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "Goede Nacht", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2005-07-14
Line count: 66
Word count: 307
The twilight has already come upon us, The shepherding moon awakens, And sings to the cloud lambs A good night song; And how quietly he sings, So that, down from the stars’ orbit, The sound gently reaches my ear: Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its noises have ended; God’s love blankets you Completely. Now, in the tree branches, Little birds seek their nest. The shoots and flowers bow Their heads in the moon’s glow, And even the waves of the millstream Renounce their wild rushing And, murmuring, fall asleep. Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its commotion have ended; God’s love blankets you Completely. Dream wanders from door to door, A beloved guest, The song of the harp dies away In the shimmering palace, The ferryman sleeps in his skiff, The shepherds on the mountain Find rest around the fire. Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its commotion have ended; God’s love blankets you Completely. And, like all the candles, That dwindle down through the night, So also grow still the pains, Which sun and daytime have brought; The cypresses gently rustle, A blessed forgetfulness Lightly wafts through the breezes. Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its commotion have ended; God’s love blankets you Completely. And when with hot tears A yearning eye is awash, And when with longing dread A loving heart is glowing, Dreams come quietly and gently And sing to the ailing child A comforting song of hope. Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its commotion have ended; God’s love blankets you Completely. Good night, then, to all you weary ones, You beloved ones near and far! Now I also will take my rest, Until the star of morning shines. The nightingale alone Still sings when the moon shines And praises the Lord God. Slumber in peace! Slumber in peace! The day and its commotion have ended; God’s love blankets you Completely.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (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 Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Gute Nacht", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 3. Drittes Buch, in Athen
This text was added to the website: 2022-08-26
Line count: 66
Word count: 331