Die Winde heben die Flügel,
Des Frühlings Jubel erschallt:
O Lust, vom blumigen Hügel
In's Herz zu schauen dem Wald!
Wie lauscht und lispelt vor Wonne,
Und wiegt sich jegliches Blatt!
Wie lächelt nieder die Sonne,
Und wird des Lächelns nicht satt!
Wie scheu zum Gruße nun fliegen
Die Wolkenschatten herzu,
Und streifen die Wipfel, und wiegen
Sich fern und finden nicht Ruh!
Doch ich muß jauchzen und singen
In's Herz dir, grünender Wald,
Und meine Grüße dir bringen,
Daß weit es drunten verhallt.
Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 80-81.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Sigmund Samuel Bieri (b. 1827) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Christian Fink (1831 - 1911) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Theodor Gaugler (1840 - 1892), "Gruss an den Wald", op. 24 (Sammlung von fünzig neuen Liedern für den vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 48, published 1876 [ ttbb chorus ], Binningen: Kompfe [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernst Richter (b. 1815) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul Salis , "Gruss an den Wald", op. 11 (Zehn Duettinen für 2 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1876 [ vocal duet with piano ], Breslau, Hientzsch [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Schneeberger (1843 - 1906) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Eduard Tauwitz (1812 - 1894) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Philipp Tietz (1816 - 1878) [sung text not yet checked]
- by (Peter) Nicolai von Wilm (1834 - 1911), "Gruss an den Wald", op. 128 (Vier Gesänge für gemischten Chor) no. 3, published 1894 [ satb chorus ], Leipzig: D. Rahter [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Wolfensperger (b. 1845), "Gruss an den Wald", op. 17 (Acht Lieder für gemischten Chor) no. 5, published 1879 [ mixed chorus ], Zürich, Fries [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Greeting to the Forest", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs
[Guest Editor] This text was added to the website: 2025-06-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 84
The winds lift their pinions,
The jubilation of springtime rings out:
Oh joy, to gaze into the heart
Of the forest from the flowery hill.
How every leaf is listening and whispering
And swaying for joy!
How the sun is smiling down
And does not grow tired of smiling!
How shyly the shadows of the clouds
Now fly hither in greeting,
And brush the tree-tops, and sway
Distantly and find no rest!
But I must rejoice and sing
Into your heart, burgeoning forest,
And must bring you my greetings
So that it echoes far down below.
