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Ach, daß die innre Schöpfungskraft Durch meinen Sinn erschölle! Daß eine Bildung voller Saft Aus meinen Fingern quölle! Ich zittre nur, ich stottre nur, Und kann es doch nicht lassen; Ich fühl, ich kenne dich, Natur, Und so muß ich dich fassen. Bedenk ich dann, wie manches Jahr Sich schon mein Sinn erschließet, Wie er, wo dürre Heide war, Nun Freudenquell genießet; Wie sehn ich mich, Natur, nach dir, Dich treu und lieb zu fühlen! Ein lustger Springbrunn wirst du mir Aus tausend Röhren spielen. Wirst alle meine Kräfte mir In meinem Sinn erheitern Und dieses enge Dasein hier Zur Ewigkeit erweitern.
Authorship
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Künstlers Abendlied", written 1774/75 [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 Conrad (Eduard Reinhold) Ansorge (1862 - 1930), "Künstlers Abendlied", op. 19 no. 1, published 1904 [ voice and piano ], from Urworte und andere Gedichte von Goethe, no. 1, Berlin, Dreililien [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Oestreich (1800 - 1840), "Künstlers Abendlied", published [1817] [ voice and piano ], from Lieder und Gesänge mit Begleitung des Pianoforte , no. 12, Leipzig: Im Commission der Dykischen Buchhandlung; Leipzig: Gedruckt bei Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Friedrich Reichardt (1752 - 1814), "Künstlers Abendlied", published 1794 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832), "Künstlers Abendlied", 1807 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The artist's evening song", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chanson vespérale de l'artiste", copyright © 2011, (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: 102
Ah, if only the inner force of creation would resound through my mind! If only a shape filled with spirit would flow from my fingers! I only tremble, I only stammer, and cannot seem to let it happen; Yet I feel I know you, Nature, and so I must capture you. When I think how many years my mind has been opening up, how, where once there was an arid heath, now one can enjoy a stream of delight; then how I long for you, Nature, and feel so faithful and dear to you! You will become for me a merry spring fountain gushing from a thousand tubes. You will enhance all the powers of my mind and amplify my narrow existence here to Eternity.
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 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Künstlers Abendlied", written 1774/75
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 126