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by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946)
Translation Singable translation by (Stephanie) Hélène Swarth (1859 - 1941)

Das Flötenlied des Herbstes
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the Chinese (中文) 
Du armer Wanderer! Fern dem Vaterlande 
Und müd und ohne Freunde, sehnst du dich 
Umsonst nach deiner Heimat Mutterlaut.

Zwar blüht der Sommer so verschwenderisch, 
Dass du noch reich scheinst. Auch der Vögel Sang
Ertönt wie in der Heimat dir vertraut.

Doch wehe! Wenn das Flötenlied des Herbstes 
Dein Ohr trifft: das Gezirpe der Zikaden, –
Und wenn der Sturmwind durch die Wolken wühlt!

Dann wirst du das Gesicht in beide Hände
Vergraben, und dein Aug wird überfließen,
Und deine Seele wird sich heimwärts wenden

Voll Qual in das geliebte Vaterland.

Text Authorship:

  • by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in Chinese (中文) by Tu Fu (712 - 770) [text unavailable]
    • 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):

  • by Krzysztof Penderecki (1933 - 2020), "Das Flötenlied des Herbstes", 2007-2018 [ baritone and orchestra ], from symphony Chinesische Lieder, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

  • Also set in Dutch (Nederlands), a translation by (Stephanie) Hélène Swarth (1859 - 1941) , "Het fluitlied van den herfst. ", subtitle: "Thu-Fu." ; composed by Clara Wildschut.
      • Go to the text.

Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2021-04-16
Line count: 13
Word count: 91

Het fluitlied van den herfst
Language: Dutch (Nederlands)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Gij arme zwerver, ver van 't land der vaadren
En moe en zonder vrienden, vruchteloos
Verlangt gij naar uw lieve moedertaal.
 
Wel bloeit de zomer zoo verkwistend mild
Dat gij nog rijk schijnt. Ook de vogelzang
Klinkt als in 't verre vaderland vertrouwd.

Maar wee u als het fluitlied van den herfst:
Het sjirpen van de krekels schril uw oor treft,
Wanneer de stormwind door de wolken woelt!
 
Dan zult ge uw aangezicht in beide handen
Begraven en uw tranen zullen vloeien
En vol verlangen zal uw ziel zich wenden
 
Naar 't welbemind verloren vaderland.

Confirmed with Hans Bethge, De Chineesche fluit, (vert. Hélène Swarth) Meulenhoff, Amsterdam z.j. [1921] p.44


Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation by (Stephanie) Hélène Swarth (1859 - 1941), "Het fluitlied van den herfst. ", subtitle: "Thu-Fu." [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Hans Bethge (1876 - 1946)
    • Go to the text page.

Based on:

  • a text in Chinese (中文) by Tu Fu (712 - 770) [text unavailable]
    • 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):

  • by Clara Wildschut (1906 - 1950), "Het fluitlied van den herfst", copyright © 1928 [ alto and piano ], Berchem : De Ring [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2023-04-27
Line count: 13
Word count: 95

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