by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)
Translation Singable translation by Florence T. Jameson
Es klingt so prächtig, wenn der Dichter
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: FRE
Es klingt so prächtig, wenn der Dichter Der Sonne bald dem Kaiser sich vergleicht; Doch er verbirgt die traurigen Gesichter, Wenn er in düstern Nächten schleicht. Von Wolken streifenhaft befangen, Versank zu Nacht des Himmels reinstes Blau; Vermagert [bleich]1 sind meine Wangen Und meine Herzenstränen grau. Laß mich nicht so [der]2 Nacht, [dem Schmerze,]3 Du Alllerliebstes, du mein Mondgesicht! O du mein Phosphor, meine Kerze, Du meine Sonne, du mein Licht!
H. Eisler sets stanzas 2, 3:1-2
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Eisler: "blaß"
2 Eisler: "in"
3 Eisler: "den Schmerzen"
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Nachklang", written 1815, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 8. Buch Suleika -- Suleika Nameh [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 Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962), "Goethe-Fragment", 1953, stanzas 2, 3:1-2 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ernst Pepping (1901 - 1981), "Nachklang", 1946, published 1949 [ voice and piano ], from Haus- und Trostbuch, no. 31 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Nachklang", op. 19b no. 1 (1915) [ voice and piano ], from Lieder aus dem Westöstlichen Diwan von Goethe, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Florence T. Jameson) , "Remembrance"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Écho", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 74
Remembrance
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
It sounds so splendid when the poet compares himself to the emperor, or the sun; yet is he fain to hide his head, crestfallen, creeping through darkness drear and dun. By trailing clouds trailing over, to darkness turned is Heaven's purest blue, my hollow cheeks are gray and ashen, and gray my heartrung tears are too. Leave me not so to gloom, and sorrow, thou best belovèd, thou my moon of night, O thou my shining lamp, my candle, O thou my sunshine, thou my light!
From the Schoeck edition.
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Florence T. Jameson , "Remembrance" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Nachklang", written 1815, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 8. Buch Suleika -- Suleika Nameh
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2008-04-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 86