by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Winterstille
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
  Tiefblau das hohe Himmelszelt, 
So schimmerreich das weiße Feld, 
So klar der Berge Gipfel;
  Und wie so still die reine Luft, 
Still, wie sich's ruht in dunkler Gruft; 
Kein Hauch geht durch die Wipfel. --

  Nicht wie im Lenz der hastge Drang, 
Wenn Flur und Wald und Bergeshang 
Von lautem Jubel schallen; 
  Nicht wie im Herbst der Scheidegruß, 
So wehmuthsvoll, der einsam muß 
Im scharfen Wind verhallen. --

  So stille müßt's in dir auch sein, 
Schwieg' ein Mal deines Sehnens Pein 
Im ungestümen Herzen, 
  Und könntest du der Erde Lust 
Ob deinem Himmel in der Brust 
Vergessen und verschmerzen.

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 141-142.


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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Winter stillness", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-10-13
Line count: 18
Word count: 98

Winter stillness
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
  The high canopy of heaven is a deep blue,
The white field is so rich in shimmering,
The mountaintops are so clear;
  And how still the pure air,
As still as one rests in the dark grave;
No breath of wind passes through the treetops. --

  Not as in the hasty urgency of spring,
When meadow and forest and mountain cliff
Resound with loud jubilation;
  Not as in autumn the parting greeting,
So melancholy, that in solitude must 
Die away in the keen wind. --

  So still it should also be within you,
Silence for once the pain of the yearning
In your impetuous heart,
  And if you could get over and forget
The joys of this earth
Because of the heaven in your breast.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2025-11-07
Line count: 18
Word count: 124