by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
Graue Nacht liegt auf dem Meere
Language: German (Deutsch)
Graue Nacht liegt auf dem Meere, Und die kleinen Sterne glimmen. Manchmal tönen in dem Wasser Lange hingezogne Stimmen. Dorten spielt der alte Nordwind Mit den blanken Meereswellen, Die wie Orgelpfeifen hüpfen, Die wie Orgelpfeifen schwellen. Heidnisch halb und halb auch kirchlich Klingen diese Melodeien, Steigen mutig in die Höhe, Daß sich drob die Sterne freuen. Und die Sterne, immer größer, Glühen auf mit Lustgewimmel, Und am Ende groß wie Sonnen Schweifen sie umher am Himmel. Zur Musik, die unten tönet, Wirbeln sie die tollsten Weisen; Sonnennachtigallen sind es, Die dort oben strahlend kreisen. Und das braust und schmettert mächtig, Meer und Himmel hör ich singen, Und ich fühle Riesenwollust Stürmisch in mein Herze dringen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Neue Gedichte, in Verschiedene, in Seraphine, no. 8 [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 Richard Farber (b. 1945), "Graue Nacht liegt auf dem Meere", 2006, published 2006 [ tenor and piano ], from Seraphine, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Don Forsythe (1932 - 2015), "Graue Nacht liegt auf dem Meere", 2007 [ high voice and piano ], from Verschiedene : vol. 1, Seraphine-Hortense, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Erwin Ernst Wilhelm Meier (b. 1937), "Graue Nacht liegt auf dem Meere", published c1996 [ baritone or mezzo-soprano and piano ], from "Sonnennachtigallen sind es ..." : sechs Gedichte aus "Seraphine" von Heinrich Heine, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Emil Naumann (1827 - 1888), "Graue Nacht liegt auf dem Meere", op. 27 no. 7, published 1871 [ voice and piano ], from Strandlieder : Liederzyklus, no. 7, Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881 ; composed by Joshua Stamper.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-05-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 115
Gray night
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Gray night broods above the ocean, Little stars gleam sparkling o'er us. And the waters' many voices Chant in deep, protracted chorus. Hark! the old northwind is playing On the polished waves of ocean, That, like tubes of some great organ, Thrill and stir with sounding motion. Partly pagan, partly sacred, Rise these melodies upswelling Passionately to the heavens, Where the joyous stars are dwelling. And the stars wax large and larger, In bright mazes they are driven, Large as suns at last revolving, Through the spaces of vast heaven. And weird harmonies they warble With the billows' music blending. Solar nightingales, they circle Through the spheres strange concord sending. And with mighty roar and trembling, Sky and ocean both are ringing; And a giant's stormy rapture Feel I in my bosom springing.
Text Authorship:
- by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881 [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 Verschiedene, in Seraphine, no. 8
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Joshua Stamper , "Gray night", published 2007, first performed 2007 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-05-04
Line count: 24
Word count: 133