by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836)
Translation © by Lau Kanen

Auf der Donau
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Auf der Wellen Spiegel
Schwimmt der Kahn.
Alte Burgen ragen
Himmelan;
Tannenwälder rauschen
[Geistergleich -]1
Und das Herz im Busen
Wird uns weich.

Denn der Menschen Werke
Sinken all';
Wo ist [Thurm und]2 Pforte,
Wo der Wall,
Wo sie selbst, die Starken?
Erzgeschirmt,
Die in Krieg und Jagden
Hingestürmt.

Trauriges Gestrüppe
Wuchert fort,
Während frommer Sage
Kraft verdorrt.
Und im kleinen Kahne
Wird uns bang -
Wellen droh'n, wie Zeiten,
Untergang.

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   F. Schubert 

View original text (without footnotes)

Confirmed with Gedichte von Johann Mayrhofer. Wien. Bey Friedrich Volke. 1824, pages 18-19; and with Mahlerisches Taschenbuch für Freunde interessanter Gegenden Natur- und Kunst Merkwürdigkeiten der Österreichischen Monarchie. Sechster Jahrgang. Wien, 1818. Im Verlage bey Anton Doll, pages 1-2.

1 Mayrhofer (1818 edition): "Geistern gleich,"
2 Schubert: "Thurm, wo"

Text Authorship:

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):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al Danubi", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Op de Donau", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "On the Danube", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sur le Danube", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Sul Danubio", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 72

Op de Donau
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Op de golvenspiegel 
drijft de boot,
Oude burchten rijzen 
hemelhoog,
Sparrenwouden ruisen 
spookachtig,
En ons hart van binnen 
huivert licht.

Want het mensenwerk toont 
diep verval:
'k Zie geen poort, geen toren 
en geen wal,
Noch hen zelf, de sterken, 
staalbeschut,
Ooit in jacht en oorlog 
aangerukt. Niets. Niets.

Treurigmakend groeisel 
woekert voort,
Waar de kracht van sagen 
wordt gesmoord.
In het kleine bootje 
zijn wij bang,
't Water dreigt, als Tijd, 
met ondergang.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2005 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.

    Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com


    If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to:


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2005-12-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 74