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O Hoffnung! holde, gütiggeschäftige!
Die du das Haus der Trauernden nicht verschmähst,
Und gerne [dienend, Edle!]1 zwischen
Sterblichen [waltest und Himmelsmächten,]2
Wo bist du? wenig lebt' ich; doch atmet kalt
Mein Abend schon. Und stille, den Schatten gleich,
Bin ich schon hier; und schon gesanglos
Schlummert das schaudernde [Herz im Busen]3.
Im grünen Tale, dort, wo der frische Quell
Vom Berge täglich rauscht, und die liebliche
Zeitlose mir am Herbsttag aufblüht,
Dort, in der Stille, du Holde, will ich
Dich suchen, oder wenn in der Mitternacht
Das unsichtbare Leben im Haine wallt,
Und über mir die immerfrohen
Blumen, die blühenden Sterne, glänzen,
O du des Äthers Tochter! erscheine dann
Aus deines Vaters Gärten, und darfst du nicht
Ein Geist der Erde, kommen, schröck', o
Schröcke mit anderem nur das Herz mir.
H. Eisler sets stanzas 1, 2 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
H. Eisler sets stanzas 1, 2 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
H. Eisler sets stanzas 1, 2 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Friedrich Hölderlin, Sämtliche Gedichte und Hyperion, Frankfurt am Main und Leipzig: Insel Verlag, 1999, pages 316-317.
1 Eisler: "dienend"2 Eisler: "waltest."
3 Eisler: "Herz"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843), "An die Hoffnung", appears in Gedichte 1800-1804, in Nachtgesänge [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 Richard Dünser (b. 1959), "An die Hoffnung", 1981-1982, first performed 1983 [ mezzo-soprano and orchestra ], from Doch atmet kalt mein Abend schon: Vier ernste Gesänge für Mezzosopran und Orchester, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "An die Hoffnung", 1943, stanzas 1,2 [ voice and piano ], from Hölderlin Fragmente, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "Hoffnung", published 1962, stanzas 1,2 [ baritone, string orchestra ], from Ernste Gesänge, no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "An die Hoffnung", stanzas 1,2 [ voice and piano ], from Hollywooder Liederbuch, no. 37 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Josef Matthias Hauer (1883 - 1959), "An die Hoffnung", op. 21 no. 7, copyright © 1924 [ voice and piano ], from Hölderlin Lieder, no. 7, Berlin, Schlesinger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max Reger (1873 - 1916), "An die Hoffnung", op. 124 (1912) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Dr. Anthony Krupp) , copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "À l'espérance", copyright © 2013, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 131
O hope! lovely, benevolently active one!
You, who does not eschew the house of those who mourn,
And gladly [serving, noble one!]1 have your workings
Between [mortals and the powers of heaven,]2
Where are you? I have lived only a little while; but already
My evening breathes coldly. And quietly, like the shadows,
I am already here; and, already songless,
My shuddering heart [slumbers in my breast]3.
In the green valley, yonder, where the fresh water-spring
Rushes down daily from the mountain, and the lovely
Crocus blooms for me on an autumnal day,
There, in the quietness, you lovely one, I shall
Seek you, or when in the midnight hour
Invisible life wanders in the grove,
And above me the ever-joyful
Flowers, the blossoming stars, shine.
Oh, you daughter of the aether! appear then
From your father's gardens, and if you are not permitted
To come as a spirit of earth, startle, oh,
Only startle my heart with other means.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translations of title(s):
"An die Hoffnung" = "To hope"
"Hoffnung" = "Hope"
2 Eisler: "mortals."
3 Eisler: "slumbers"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843), "An die Hoffnung", appears in Gedichte 1800-1804, in Nachtgesänge
This text was added to the website: 2024-05-08
Line count: 20
Word count: 160