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Über's Schneefeld halle frisch, mein Gesang, Durch die Stille das schlummernde Thal entlang! Kein Vöglein mehr singt. Kein Bächlein mehr klingt. Um so lauter kling' und schalle mein Lied, Dem Eiswind zum Trotz, der entgegen dir zieht, Um so kecker poch', um so frischer, mein Muth, Um so heißer wall' und woge, mein Blut! In der Sonne schimmern und flimmern die Höhn, Und drunten die Tannen, wie schön, o wie schön! Kein Zweiglein sich regt Vom Winde bewegt. Um so rascher eil' und schreite, mein Fuß, Wie fernhin dein Tritt erknarren auch muß! Ha! dringet der Frost durch Mark auch und Bein, In das fröhliche Herz dringt er nimmer hinein! Und der Himmel da droben, o schau, o schau! Durchsichtig beinah das kristallene Blau! Nur zartester Duft In goldener Luft. So freudig blitze, mein Auge, darein, So klar und frisch soll's im Herzen mir sein, Soll hallen mein Lied zurück von den Höhn: Nicht der Frühling allein, auch der Winter ist schön!
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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, 1875, page 144.
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Winterlied", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 165, Basel: Benno Schwabe, first published 1875 [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 Friedrich Wilhelm Markull (1816 - 1887), "Winterlied", op. 110 (Zehn Naturlieder von Friedrich Oser für vierstimmigen Männerchor), Heft 5 no. 10, published 1870 [ ttbb chorus ], Schleusingen: C. Glaser [sung text not yet checked]
- by Andreas Johann Lorenz Oechsner (1815 - 1886), "Winterlied", op. 32 (Drei Lieder für vier Männerstimmen), Heft 1 no. 2, published 1872 [ ttbb quartet ], Leipzig: J. Schuberth & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Christoph Schnyder (1826 - 1909), "Winterlied", op. 20 [ men's chorus a cappella ], Leipzig: Gebrüder Hug & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Heinrich August Siemers (1819 - 1876), "Über's Schneefeld halle", op. 41 (Sechs Lieder für vierstimmigen Männerchor) no. 6, published 1868 [ ttbb chorus ], Leipzig: Schuberth und Co. [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Winter song", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Melanie Trumbull
This text was added to the website: 2019-04-01
Line count: 24
Word count: 162
Resound briskly over the snowy field, my song, Along through the silence of the slumbering valley! No bird sings any longer. No brooklet tinkles any longer. Ring out, therefore, and sound all the more loudly, my song, In defiance of the icy wind that rises up against you; Pulse all the more audaciously, all the more briskly, my courage, Course and surge all the more fervently, my blood! The heights shimmer and glitter in the sunshine, And down below, the firs, how lovely, how lovely! No little branch stirs, Moved by the wind. Hasten all the more quickly and stride, my foot, Though the squeaking of your steps be heard far and wide! Ha! though the cold may penetrate [your] very bones, It can never enter into [your] happy heart! And the sky above, oh look, oh look! The crystalline blue is almost transparent! Only the most delicate scent In the golden air. Thus must my eyes sparkle so joyfully, Thus clear and brisk shall it be in my heart, [Thus] shall my song echo from the heights: Not springtime alone, winter, too, is beautiful!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 by Sharon Krebs, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891), "Winterlied", appears in Liederbuch, in 1. Naturlieder, no. 165, Basel: Benno Schwabe, first published 1875
This text was added to the website: 2025-01-30
Line count: 24
Word count: 185