by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884)
Translation by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931)
Sind die Sterne fromme Lämmer
Language: German (Deutsch)
Sind die Sterne [fromme]1 Lämmer, Die, wenn fern die Sonne scheidet, Auf den blauen Himmelsfluren Still die Nacht, die Hirtin, weidet? Oder sind es Silberlilien, Die den reinen Kelch erschließen Und des Schlummerduftes Wogen Durch die müde Welt ergießen? Oder sind es lichte Kerzen, Die am Hochaltare funkeln, Wenn der weite Dom der Lüfte Sich erfüllt mit heil'gen Dunkeln? Nein! es sind die Silberlettern, Drin ein Engel uns vom Lieben In das blaue Buch des Himmels Tausend Lieder aufgeschrieben.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 André: "ferne"; further changes may exist not noted above.
Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lieder als Intermezzo, no. 3 [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 Johann Bernhard André (1823 - 1882), "Sind die Sterne ferne Lämmer", op. 47 (Acht zweistimmige Lieder mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1874 [ duet for 2 mezzo-sopranos with piano ], Offenbach, André [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Joseph) Joachim Raff (1822 - 1882), "Sind die Sterne fromme Lämmer", op. 184 (6 Lieder) no. 2 (1870-3), published 1873 [ vocal trio for 2 sopranos and alto with piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Michael Schletterer (1824 - 1893), "Sind die Sterne fromme Lämmer", op. 31 (Drei Gesänge für 3 weiblichen Stimmen mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1875 [ vocal trio for 3 female voices with piano ], Leipzig, Siegel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ferdinand Sieber (1822 - 1895), "Sind die Sterne fromme Lämmer?", op. 125 no. 1, published 1881 [ vocal duet for alto or mezzo-soprano and bass with piano ], from Gubener Stunden. Fünf Duette für Alt (oder Mezzo-Sopran) und Bass mit Pianoforte, no. 1, Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen Verlag [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931) ; composed by Liza Lehmann.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 79
Star fancies
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Are the stars that beam above us, When the sunset fades from Heav'n, Shining flocks by Night, the Shepherd, Through the fields of azure driv'n? Are they hosts of silver lilies, From their crystal-chaliced flow'rs Wafting streams of blest oblivion To this toiling world of ours? Are they myriad clust'ring candles Twinkling out at Heav'n's high Altar, That across the dome of darkness Through the holy stillnes falter? No! they are love's silent music, Shining out at Heav'n's portal, In a thousand golden cyphers Angel-written and immortal!
Authorship:
- by Alfred Perceval Graves (1846 - 1931) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), no title, appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lieder als Intermezzo, no. 3
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Liza Lehmann (1862 - 1918), "Star fancies", published 1903 [ duet for alto and baritone with piano ], from Songs of love and spring, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2020-08-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 87