Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Mein Herz ist schwer! auf! Von der Wand Die Laute, [sie]1 mag ich noch hören; Entlocke mit geschickter Hand Ihr Töne, die [den Schmerz]2 bethören! Kann noch mein Herz ein Hoffen nähren, Es [zaubern’s]3 diese Töne her, Und birgt mein trocknes Auge Zähren, Sie fließen, und mich brennt's nicht mehr! Nur tief sey, wild der Töne Fluß, Und von der Freude weggekehret! Ja, Sänger, daß ich weinen muß, Sonst wird das schwere Herz verzehret! Denn sieh! vom Kummer ward's genähret; Mit stummem Wachen trug es lang; [Jetzt ward's]4 vom Aeussersten belehret -- Da [bricht's, wo nicht, heilt's im Gesang!]5
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Julius Körner (translator), Lord Byron’s Poesien, Erstes Bändchen, Zwickau: im Verlage der Gebrüder Schumann, 1821, page 15
1 Schumann: "nur sie allein"2 Schumann: "das Herz"
3 Schumann: "zaubern"
4 Schumann: "Und jetzt"
5 Schumann: "brech' es oder heil' im Sang"
Authorship:
- by Karl Julius Körner (1793 - 1873), "Die Laute", appears in Israelitische Gesänge, no. 9, first published 1821 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "My soul is dark", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 9, adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23, first published 1815
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Mein Herz ist schwer", subtitle: "Aus den hebräischen Gesängen", op. 25 no. 15 (1840), published 1840 [ voice and piano ], from Myrten, no. 15, Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Marta Garcia Cadena) , "De les melodies hebrees", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Mijn hart is zwaar", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Mon cœur est sombre", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "E' pesante il mio cuore", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 16
Word count: 98
Mon cœur est sombre ! Oh ! le luth du mur, Seulement je veux encore l'entendre, Tire avec tes mains habiles Ses sons qui séduisent le cœur. Si mon cœur peut nourrir encore un espoir, Ses notes le charment Et mes yeux secs contiennent des larmes, Elles volent et ne me brûlent plus. Mais que le flot des sons soit profond et sauvage, Et qu'il éloigne la joie ! Oui, chanteur, je dois pleurer, Sinon mon cœur sombre va se consumer ! Alors vas-y ! Nourri par le chagrin, Porté par des longues veilles silencieuses, Et maintenant il apprend le pire, Là il se brise ou est sauvé par le chant.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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 Karl Julius Körner (1793 - 1873), "Die Laute", appears in Israelitische Gesänge, no. 9, first published 1821
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "My soul is dark", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 9, adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23, first published 1815
This text was added to the website: 2010-10-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 111