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by Ernst Stauß
Translation Singable translation by August Matthijs

Maientag
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie war er schön der Maientag, 
da wir zu Zweien schritten
durch Enzian und Haidekraut, 
durch Flur und Waldesmitten;
der Morgensonne junger Glanz
lag über Tal und Höhn.
Wie war er schön der Maientag,
wie war er wunderschön.

Wie war er süss der erste Kuss,
der uns in Lieb' vereinte,
wie glänzte hell dein braunes Aug'
das Freudentränen weinte,
die Lerche sang im Ätherblau,
mein war das Paradies.
Wie war er süss der erste Kuss,
wie war er wundersüss.

Wie war er kurz der Liebestraum,
wie kurz der Maientag;
nun braust der Herbst durch das Land,
es schweigt der Lerche Schlag,
es zittert leis' durch Flur und Feld
ein sterbendes Vergeh'n.
Wie war er schön der Maientag,
wie war er wundeschön.

Text Authorship:

  • by Ernst Stauß , appears in Meggendorter Blätter [author's text not yet checked 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 Frank Valentin Van der Stucken (1858 - 1929), "Maientag", op. 33 (Fünf volkstümliche Lieder) no. 1, published 1904 [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (August Matthijs) , "Meidag"
  • ENG English [singable] (J. A. Homan) , "A day of May"


Researcher for this page: Hanne-Joost Peeters

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 121

Meidag
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Hoe schoon die dag der maand van mei,
Waar op w'ons tweeën dwaalden
Door woud en veld en heidekruid
Waar loof en bloemen praalden.
Hoe groot der Zonne morgenglans
Goud op der heuvlen kroon.
Hoe schoon, hoe schoon die dag in mei
Hoe onuitspreeklik schoon.

Hoe zoet was d'allereerste kus,
Toen liefd'ons nauw vereende;
Hoe helder blonk uw zachtbruin oog,
Dat vreugdetranen weende;
De leeuwrik zond in ether blauw,
Zalig was ons gemoed.
Hoe zoet, hoe zoet was d'eerste kus,
Hoe onuitspreeklik zoet!

Hoe kort was toch de liefdedroom,
Hoe kort die dag in mei,
Thans bruisen stormen door het land,
Geen leeuwrik zingt nog blij;
Daar siddert zacht door 't akkerverld
Des afscheids droeve toon.
Hoe schoon, hoe schoon dien dag in mei,
Hoe onuitspreeklik schoon!

From the Van der Stucken score.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation by August Matthijs , "Meidag" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Ernst Stauß , appears in Meggendorter Blätter
    • Go to the text page.

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: Hanne-Joost Peeters

This text was added to the website: 2009-02-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 127

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