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In stiller Nacht, zur ersten Wacht, ein Stimm' begunnt zu klagen, der nächt'ge Wind hat süß und lind zu mir den Klang getragen. Von herbem Leid und Traurigkeit ist mir das Herz zerflossen, die Blümelein, mit Tränen rein hab' ich sie all' begossen. Der schöne [Mond will untergahn]1, für Leid nicht mehr mag scheinen, die Sterne lan ihr Glitzen stahn, mit mir sie wollen weinen. Kein Vogelsang noch Freudenklang man höret in den Lüften, die wilden Tier' trauern auch mit mir in Steinen und in Klüften.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 In Brahms' WoO 33: "Mon will untergon"
The text shown is a variant of another text.
It is based on
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635), "Travvr-Gesang von der noth Christi am Oelberg in dem Garten", appears in Trutznachtigall
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "In stiller Nacht", WoO. 33 no. 42, published [1894], from Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 42, Berlin, N. Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Totenklage", WoO. posth. 36 no. 1 (1859-62) [ SSAA chorus a cappella ], from Acht Deutsche Volkslieder, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "In stiller Nacht", WoO. 34 (Vierzehn deutsche Volkslieder) no. 8, published 1895 [ SATB chorus ], from Deutsche Volkslieder für gemischten Chor, no. 8, Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), adapted by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [an adaptation] ; composed by Gerard Bunk.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Wim Reedijk) , "Een nacht, heel stil", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright © 2006
- ENG English [singable] (W. G. Rothery ) , "In silent night"
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Milla Valkeasuo) , "Hiljaisessa yössä, ensimmäisenä", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Dans la nuit tranquille, à la première veille", copyright © 2013, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 86
Een nacht, heel stil, zij was nog pril een stem hief aan te klagen. De wind, die nacht heeft zoet en zacht naar mij die klacht gedragen. Van lijden droef zo zwaar en stroef is toen mijn hart gebroken de bloemen zijn met tranen fijn door mij weldra begoten. De mooie maan wil ondergaan om voor dit leed te schuilen de sterren luid hun stralen uit met mij zij willen huilen. Geen vogel zingt noch vreugde klinkt dat kun je wel geloven. Zelfs het wilde dier heeft geen plezier op rotsen en in kloven.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © by Wim Reedijk, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Wim Reedijk. Contact: w (DOT) m.reedijk (AT) hetnet.nl
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Not Applicable [an adaptation]
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635), "Travvr-Gesang von der noth Christi am Oelberg in dem Garten", appears in Trutznachtigall
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 94