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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.
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"
Authorship
- by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Auf der Donau", first published 1818 [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Auf der Donau", op. 21 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, D 553 (1817), published 1823 [ voice, piano ], Sauer & Leidesdorf, VN 276, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
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 text: Richard Morris , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 71
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.
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: lcpkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer (1787 - 1836), "Auf der Donau", first published 1818
This text was added to the website: 2005-12-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 74