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Du liebe, [treue]1 Laute, Wie manche Sommernacht, Bis daß der Morgen graute, Hab' ich mit dir durchwacht! Die Täler, wieder nachten, [Kaum spielt noch]2 Abendrot, Doch die sonst mit uns wachten, Die liegen lange tot. Was wollen wir nun singen Hier in der Einsamkeit, Wenn alle von uns gingen, Die unser Lied erfreut'? Wir wollen dennoch singen! So still ist's auf der Welt; Wer weiß, die Lieder dringen Vielleicht zum Sternezelt. Wer weiß, die da gestorben, Sie hören droben mich Und öffnen leis' die Pforten Und nehmen uns zu sich.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Herzogenberg: "traute"; further changes may exist not shown above.
2 Wolf: "Schon sinkt das"
Authorship
- by Josef Karl Benedikt von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Nachruf", appears in Gedichte, in 5. Totenopfer [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 Sophie Wolf Baudissin, Gräfin (1821 - 1894), "An die Laute", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte und Violoncello) no. 3, published 1885 [voice, piano, cello], Berlin, Challier & Co. [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by (Leopold) Heinrich (Picot de Peccaduc), Freiherr von Herzogenberg (1843 - 1900), "Nachruf", op. 91 no. 1, published 1895 [high voice and piano], from Elegische Gesänge für 1 hohe Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 1, Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Ernst (Friedrich Karl) Rudorff (1840 - 1916), "Du liebe, treue Laute", op. 30 (Vier Lieder für gemischten Chor) no. 1, published 1887 [mixed chorus a cappella], Berlin, Bote & Bock [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Nachruf", op. 20 no. 14 (1905-14) [voice and piano], from Lieder nach Gedichten von Uhland und Eichendorff, no. 14. [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Nachruf", 1880. [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In memoriam", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Hommage funèbre", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Richiamo", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 90
You dear, faithful lute, how many a summer night until morning broke did I watch with you! The valleys darken with approaching night again, already the evening glow is diminishing, but they who once watched with us, they have long lain dead. Why are we compelled now to sing here in this solitude, when everyone is gone now who once delighted in our song? Yet we will sing nonetheless! So silent is it in the world; who knows, these songs may penetrate perhaps even the starry dome. Who knows, those who have died, they might hear me up above and softly open the gates and take us up to them.
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Josef Karl Benedikt von Eichendorff (1788 - 1857), "Nachruf", appears in Gedichte, in 5. Totenopfer
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 111