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Die silbernen Glöckchen
Der Blume des Mays,
Sie läuten zum Reihn.
Herbey in den Kreis,
Ihr schwärmenden Feyn!
Auf! purpurne Flöckchen
Und weiße zu streun!
Wo Mondschein die duftige
Primel umbebt.
Da werde der luftige
Reigen gewebt.
O Lust, sonder gleichen,
Zum Ringe verschränkt,
Bis Luna den Höhn
Die Drachen entlenkt,
Sich nach dem Getön
Von Ariels weichen
Accorden zu drehn!
Sey manches entzückender!
Freundlich und mild
Hat uns ein beglückender
Wahn es verhüllt.
Die Menschen, gleich Blättern,
Verschwinden sie früh;
In angstvoller Hast
Erbaun sie mit Müh
Den Wolkenpallast;
Im Räumchen von Brettern
Da finden sie Rast.
Wir lachen der grämlichen
Runzeln der Zeit,
Und bleiben die nähmlichen
Morgen wie heut!
Wir herrschen in Reichen,
Wo nimmer dein Born,
O Jugend, versiegt.
Die Ros' ohne Dorn
Am Pfade sich wiegt,
Und ewig kein Zeichen
Im Sternenbuch trügt.
Wo Mondschein die duftige
Primel umbebt,
Da werde der luftige
Reigen gewebt.
J. Lang sets stanzas 1, 3-4
Confirmed with: Friedrich von Matthissons sämmtliche Werke, Erster Band, Gedichte, Erster Theil, Wien: Cath. Gräffer und Härter, 1815, pages 99-100.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Feenreigen" [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 Ludwig Abeille (1761 - 1838), "Feenreigen" [ voice and piano ], from Lieder und Elegien von F. v. Matthisson für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 9, Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Anton Eberhardt (1855 - 1922), "Feenreigen", op. 1 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1879 [ voice and piano ], Bremen, Praeger & Meier [sung text not yet checked]
- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Fee'n-Reigen", op. 3 (Vier deutsche Lieder) no. 4 (1830 or earlier), published 1834, stanzas 1,3-4 [ voice and piano ], München, Falter und Sohn, note: originally published without opus; designated in 1867 as opus 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Richard von Perger (1854 - 1911), "Feenreigen", op. 18 (Drei Gesänge) no. 2, published 1890 [ SSA trio or chorus and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) (Harald Krebs) , "Fairy dance", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "La ronde des fées", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 44
Word count: 150
The silver bells
Of the flower of May,
They ring, inviting to the dance!
Come into the circle,
You swarming fairies!
Come, strew flakes [i.e., petals]
Of purple and white!
Where moonlight trembles
About the scented primrose,
There the airy dance
Shall be woven!
Oh joy without parallel,
To be intertwined in a ring,
Until Luna lures the dragons
From the heights,
To come and twirl
To the sounds
Of Ariel's soft chords.
If something be more ravishing!
In a friendly and mild manner
A delight-inspiring illusion
Has veiled it from us.
People, like leaves,
Soon disappear
With fearful haste!
They laboriously build themselves
A palace in the clouds!
In a small room made of boards [i.e., a coffin]
They find rest!
[But] we laugh at the miserable
Wrinkles of time!
And remain the same
Tomorrow as today!
We reign in dominions
Where thy wellspring,
Oh youth, never dries up!
The thornless rose
Sways beside the path,
And eternally no sign
In the book of stars shall deceive.
Where moonlight trembles
About the scented primrose,
There the airy dance
Shall be woven!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Sharon Krebs and Harald 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 von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Feenreigen"
This text was added to the website: 2006-11-10
Line count: 44
Word count: 182