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Wenn fromme [Kindlein]1 schlafen gehn, [Vor]2 ihrem Bett' zwei Englein stehn, Sie decken sie zu, decken sie auf, Decken sie zu, decken sie auf, Die haben ein liebendes Auge darauf. Haben ein liebendes Auge [darauf]3. Wenn aber auf die Kindlein stehn, Die beiden Engel schlafen gehn, So reicht nicht mehr der Englein Macht, Reicht nun nicht mehr der Englein Macht, Es hält der liebe Gott selbst die Wacht, Der liebe Gott hält selbst die Wacht.
R. Schumann sets stanzas 1 (lines 1-2, 4, 6), 2 (lines 1-2, 4, 6)
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Der Jugend Wunderhorn: Reim- und Liederschatz aus den Werken unserer Dichter, so wie aus dem Volksmunde für die verschiedenen Stufenjahre der Kinderwelt gesammelt und herausgegeben, Nürnberg, Verlag von J. L. Lotzbeck, 1850, page 2. This and many other editions published around this time have the typo "bei den" in stanza 2, line 2, but we have corrected it above. Some editions give the title "Fliegendes Blatt".
1 Radecke: "Kinder"; further changes may exist not noted.2 Schumann: "An"
3 Schumann: "drauf"
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Kinderwacht" [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), "Kinderwache", op. 507 (Zehn leichte Duetten für 2 Singstimme (auch im Chore zu singen) mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1877 [ vocal duet (or 2-part chorus) with piano ], Braunschweig, Bauer [sung text not yet checked]
- by Reinhold Becker (1842 - 1924), "Treue Wacht", op. 102 no. 2, published 1900 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Kinderlieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 2, Leipzig, Schuberth & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Hirsch (1858 - 1918), "Kinderwache", op. 124 (Drei Lieder für gemischten Chor) no. 3, published 1899 [ mixed chorus ], Köln, P.J. Tonger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Julius Joseph Maier (1821 - 1889), "Kinderwache", op. 2 (Sechs Gesänge) no. 1, published 1848 [ SATB quartet ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Albert Maria) Robert Radecke (1830 - 1911), "Kinderwacht", op. 45 (Sechs Lieder) no. 4, published 1876 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
- by Georgine Schubert (1840 - 1878), "Wiegenlied", published 1875 [ voice and piano ], from Lieder und Gesänge, Erste Folge, no. 2, Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Kinderwacht", subtitle: "Fliegendes Blatt", op. 79 no. 21[22] (1849), published 1849, stanzas 1 (lines 1-2,4,6), 2 (lines 1-2,4,6) [ voice and piano ], from Liederalbum für die Jugend, no. 21[22], Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Catharina Van Rennes (1858 - 1940), "Kinderwacht", op. 15 no. 3, published 1892 [ vocal duet for children's voices and piano ], from Lebenslust. Sechs zweistimmige Kinderlieder mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 3, Leipzig, Breitkopf & Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max Wilhelm Karl Vogrich (1852 - 1916), "Wenn fromme Kindlein schlafen geh'n", published 1890 [ voice and piano ], from Zweites Lieder-Album, no. 4, Leipzig, Hofmeister [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hermann Wichmann (1824 - 1905), "Fliegendes Blatt", op. 25 no. 3, published 1860 [ voice and piano ], from Lieder-Album, no. 3, Berlin, Bahn [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Leo Blech.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Waken over een kind", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "On watch for the children", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Veiller sur les enfants", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- RUS Russian (Русский) (Elena Kalinina) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Margo Briessinck
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 75
When pious children go to bed, At their bedside there stand two angels, Tuck them in, wake them up, Tuck them in, wake them up, Watch over them with a loving eye, Watch over them with a loving eye. As soon as the children rise, Both angels get to rest, The angels no longer strong enough, The angels no longer strong enough, The caring God himself stands on guard now, The caring God himself stands on guard now.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2005 by Linda Godry, (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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Kinderwacht"
This text was added to the website: 2005-10-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 78