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Maria, wahre Himmelsfreud', der Welt Ergötzlichkeit! Wer wollt' dich nicht lieben? Du stehst mir geschrieben, ja mir gegraben mit tiefen Buchstaben in meinem Herzelein! Wie schmelzet ein Karfunkelstein im Lorbeerkränzelein, so geht es mir eben, mein' Seel' und mein Leben vor Lieb' sich zertrennen und in sich verbrennen bei deinem Nennen! Der ganzen Schöpfung reiche Zier vergleicht sich nicht mit dir. Es dürfen die Blumen ihr' Schönheit nicht rühmen, sie müssen sich schämen, du tuest benehmen all' ihre Zierlichkeit. Des Himmels Sternenangesicht und aller Sonnen Licht, samt Edelgesteinen, sie dürfen nicht scheinen, die Perlen, Korallen, Gold, Silber, sie fallen vor dir in Finsternis. Maria, o mein' höchste Freud', die Welt ist mir verleidt, ich suche zu sterben; du woll'st mir erwerben nur Gottes Gnaden, auf höheren Pfaden so scheid' ich fröhlich hin.
Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn [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 Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), "Marias Lob", op. 22 no. 7 (1859), published 1862 [ mixed chorus ], from Marienlieder, no. 7, Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Lof van Maria", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Linda Godry) , "Praised be Mary", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Louange à Marie", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Giovanni Duci) , "Lode a Maria", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Alfonso Sebastián) , "Alabanza a María", copyright © 2021, (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: 35
Word count: 132
Mary, true friend of heaven, The world's delight! Who could but love you? Your name is written, No, engraved, with deep lines in my heart! As a gemstone melts In the laurel wreath, So are my very Soul and body So full of love They burst into pieces And burn in your name! Creation in all its splendour Pales in comparison to you. Your beauty shames The flower's blossoms Who look plump compared to your frailness. The star-spangled night sky And the combined light of all the suns, And precious stones, Can not outshine thee, The pearls, corals, Gold, and silver dull Compared to you. Mary, my heart's delight, The world means nothing to me, And I wish to die; If you, only you, ask for God's grace For my safe ramble On heavenly paths I will leave here with joyous heart.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Linda Godry, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn
This text was added to the website: 2009-07-26
Line count: 35
Word count: 142