by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1826 - 1911)
Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend
Language: German (Deutsch)
Our translations: FRE
Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend, Hörst du fern die Winde schrillen, Siehst wie oben stumme Wolken Sich in Nebeldecken hüllen; Siehst, wie unten ausgestorben Wald und Flur, wie kahl geschoren; -- Um dich Winter, in dir Winter, Und dein Herz ist eingefroren. Plötzlich fallen auf dich nieder Weiße flocken, und verdrossen, Meinst du schon mit Schneegestöber Hab' der Baum dich übergossen. Doch es ist kein Schneegestöber, Merkst es bald mit freud'gem Schrecken; Duft'ge Frühlingsblüten sind es, Die dich necken und bedecken. Welch ein schauersüßer Zauber! Winter wandelt sich in Maie, Schnee verwandelt sich in Blüten, Und dein Herz es liebt aufs Neue.
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Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Neuer Frühling, no. 1 [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 Gustav Altmann (1865 - 1924), "Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend", op. 10 (Drei Duette) no. 3 [ duet for 2 female voices with piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Reiner Bredemeyer (1929 - 1995), "Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend", published 1989 [ baritone and piano ], from Winter : sechs Lieder nach Gedichten von Heinrich Heine, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Franz (1815 - 1892), "Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend", op. 40 (Sechs Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3 (1867?), published 1867 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Theodor Fürchtegott Kirchner (1823 - 1903), "Frühling", op. 81 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6, published 1887 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Huub de Lange (b. 1955), "Neuer Frühling", published 2006 [ SATB chorus a cappella ], from Jahreszeiten, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl, Graf Nostitz , "Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend", published 1886 [ voice and piano ], from Fünfzig Lieder, no. 39, Prag, Hoffmann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mario van Overeem (1872 - 1946), "Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend", from Neuer Frühling: 44 Lieder, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Kuno Stierlin (1886 - 1967), "Unter'm weißen Baume sitzend" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803 - 1883), "Frühlingsblüten", op. 46 (Sieben Gedichte aus dem 'Neuen Frühling' von Heinrich Heine) no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Georges Clerc (flourished c1881) , no title, appears in Mon videpoche, in 3. Traductions et variations d'après H. Heine, no. 29, Paris, Éd. P. Ollendorff, first published 1881 ; composed by André Messager.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Edgar Alfred Bowring) , "Spring", appears in The Poems of Heine Complete, first published 1861
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Assis sous un arbre blanc", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 100
Spring
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
'Neath the white tree sitting sadly, Thou dost hear the far winds wailing, Seëst how the mute clouds o'er thee Are their forms in mist fast veiling; See'st how all beneath seems perish'd, Wood and plain, how shorn and dreary; Round thee winter, in thee winter, Frozen is thy heart and weary. Sudden downward fall upon thee Flakes all white, and with vexation Thou dost think the tree is show'ring Snow-dust from that elevation. Soon with joyful start thou findest 'Tis no snow-dust cold and freezing; Fragrent blossoms 'tis of springtime Cov'ring thee and fondly teasing. What a shudd'ring-sweet enchantment! Into May is winter turning, Snow hath changed itself to blossoms, And thy heart with love is yearning.
Text Authorship:
- by Edgar Alfred Bowring (1826 - 1911), "Spring", appears in The Poems of Heine Complete, first published 1861 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Neuer Frühling, no. 1
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: 2008-04-16
Line count: 20
Word count: 118