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Über den beschneiten Rüstern Engel flüstern, Harren, bis die Nacht bricht an, Und mit leisem, leisem Wiegen Darf durchfliegen Jeder die gewiesne Bahn. Glocken hallen. Zu den Kleinen Ziehn die Einen, Führn sie flugs in's Paradies, Das den Kindern, das den Armen Voll Erbarmen Der herniederkam, verhieß. Zu dem Fremdling schweben Andre, Daß er wandre Nach der Heimath froh zurück; Zu der Mutter, daß voll Wonne Sie sich sonne An der Kinder Lust und Glück. Doch von allen Engeln keinen, Wie dem Einen Leuchtete die Stirn voll Glanz, Der getröstet im Entschweben Voller Beben Noch ein Kind, verlassen ganz.
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, page 346.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Der Engel am Christabend", appears in Liederbuch, in 6. Romanzen, no. 372 [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 Reinhold Reich (1842 - 1900), "Der Engel am Christabend", published 1883 [ vocal duet and piano ], from Christkindlein kommt! Kleine Lieder für zwei Singstimmen mit einfacher Pianofortebegleitung, no. 3, Langensalza: Beyer & Söhne [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The angel on Christmas Eve", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2026-06-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 100
Above the snow-covered elms Angels whisper, They abide until night falls, And with a soft, soft rocking motion Every one of them is permitted To fly his designated path. Bells resound. To the little ones Some [of the angels] travel, Quickly they lead them into Paradise, Which to the children, to the poor, Full of compassion, He who came down promised. To the stranger other [angels] float, So that he may wander Happily back to his homeland; To the mother so that, full of bliss, She may bask In the children's delight and happiness. But of all the angels there is none Whose brow shone Full of radiance like the one Who comforted, even while wafting away, A child [that was] full of trembling, Utterly forsaken.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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.
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Der Engel am Christabend", appears in Liederbuch, in 6. Romanzen, no. 372
This text was added to the website: 2026-09-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 127