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Was schmettert die Nachtigall in den Wald, Daß es weit durch den sonnigen Busch erschallt? Was jubelt die Lerch' in der Himmelwelt, Daß schallet die Wies' und das Aehrenfeld? Sie rufen, sie rufen: Wir machen's bekannt, Daß jeder es wiss' in dem ganzen Land, Drum rufen wir es so laut, so laut: Wir sind jetzt Bräutigam und Braut. Was flötet die Nachtigall leis' am Teich, Was flötet sie süß im dunkeln Gesträuch? Was flüstert die Lerche da tief im Korn Was sagt sie geheim den Blumen am Born? Ihr Blumen, ihr Blumen, ich sag's euch vertraut, Unser kleines Nestchen das ist gebaut. Aber sagt es nicht weiter: dort, ja dort, Am allerheimlichsten, traulichsten Ort.
Confirmed with Gedichte von O.F. Gruppe, Berlin: Gedruckt und verlegt bei G. Reimer, 1835, page 66.
Text Authorship:
- by Otto Friedrich Gruppe (1804 - 1876), "Vogelsprache" [author's text checked 2 times 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 Gottfried Angerer (1851 - 1909), "Vogelsprache", published 1889 [ ttbb chorus ], from Drei Lieder für Männerchor, no. 1, Zürich: Fries [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Dullo (1832 - 1907), "Vogelsprache", op. 9 (Drei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1876 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Friedrich August Hering (1819 - 1889), "Vogelsprache", op. 23 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1858 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Herzberg (1819 - 1847), "Vogelsprache", op. 7 (Sechs vierstimmige Gesänge für Sopran, Alt, Tenor und Bass) no. 1, published 1847 [ SATB chorus ], Berlin, Guttentag [sung text not yet checked]
- by Richard Kleinmichel (1846 - 1901), "Vogelsprache", op. 26 (Sechs zweistimmige Lieder mit Pianoforte) no. 6, published 1876 [ vocal duet with piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
- by August Ferdinand Riccius (1819 - 1886), "Vogelsprache", op. 45 (Sechs Lieder für 1 hohe Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1884 [ high voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max von Weinzierl (1841 - 1898), "Vogelsprache", op. 84 (Zwei Männerchöre) no. 1, published 1890 [ tenor and men's chorus ], Berlin, Fr. Luckhardt [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The language of the birds", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2012-02-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 114
What is the nightingale blaring forth in the forest, So that it resounds far through the sunny bushes? What is the lark singing rejoicingly in the realm of heaven, So that it echoes in the meadow and the grain-field? They call out, they call out: We are making it known, So that everyone in the whole country knows it, Therefore we call it out so loudly, so loudly: We are now bridegroom and bride. What is the nightingale fluting so quietly by the pond, What is it fluting so sweetly in the dark shrubbery? What is the lark whispering so deep there in the wheat[,] What is it secretly saying to the flowers at the well-spring? Ye flowers, ye flowers, I tell you confidentially That our little nest has been built. But do not pass it on: there, yes there, At the most secret, most cozy place.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 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. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Otto Friedrich Gruppe (1804 - 1876), "Vogelsprache"
This text was added to the website: 2020-02-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 147