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Wer einsam steht im bunten Lebenskreise Und was das Leben teuer macht, verlor, Wie bebt sein Herz, trifft eine liebe Weise Aus [ferner]1 Jugendzeit sein horchend Ohr. Willkommen Töne! Eures Hauches Fächeln Weckt eine schlummernde Gedankenwelt, Verweinte Augen lernen wieder lächeln, Die düst're Stirn ist plötzlich aufgehellt. Der Zephyr, der in reichen [Blütendüften]2 Des Orients sich [hin- und hergewiegt]3, Verbreitet Balsamhauch noch in den Lüften, Wenn schon die Blume welk am Boden liegt. So lebt, ist auch der Traum des Glücks entschwunden, Erinnerung im Hauche der Musik; Ein kleines Lied aus [jenen]4 bessern Stunden Bringt uns die alte Seligkeit zurück. Musik, Du Mächtige, vor Dir [entschwindet]5 Der armen Sprache [ausdrucksvollstes]6 Wort; Warum auch [sagen]7, was das Herz empfindet, Tönt doch in Dir die ganze Seele fort. Der Freundschaft Worte haben oft gelogen, Es täuscht die Liebe durch Beredsamkeit ; Musik allein hat nie ein Herz betrogen Und viele tausend Herzen [hocherfreut]8.
C. Loewe sets stanzas 1-4
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Liszt, Loewe: "früher"
2 Loewe: "Blumendüften"
3 Liszt: "hin und her bewegt" [sic] ; Loewe: "hin und her gewiegt"
4 Liszt: "fernen"
5 Liszt: "verschwindet"
6 Liszt: "seelenvollste"
7 Liszt: "sorgen"
8 Liszt: "hoch erfreut"
Text Authorship:
- by Helene Luise Elisabeth zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Prinzessin (1814 - 1858), "Musik" [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 Theodor Eisenhauer (1817 - 1867), "Wer einsam steht im bunten Lebenskreise", op. 25 no. 4, published 1865, from In stillen Stunden. 6 Melodien, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Hegar (1841 - 1927), "Hymne an die Musik", op. 2, published 1873 [ large chorus and orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Heiser (1816 - 1897), "Musik", op. 6, published 1881, note: Hofmeister has an entry in 1846 for a setting called "Musik" by W. Heilser, also opus 6 (perhaps the same setting) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz (Ferenc) Liszt (1811 - 1886), "Die Macht der Musik", S. 302 (1848), published 1848 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Musik", 184-?, published 1899?, stanzas 1-4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- possibly by Rosa Caroline Mathilde Emma Schliewen (1862 - 1938), "Musik", published 1883, note: Hofmeister gives the composer's name as Rosa Schliewen and no information has been yet found indicating that this particular Rosa Schliewen composed music (there is much literary output under the pseudonym "Felicitas Rose" however) [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Speyer (1790 - 1878), "Musik", op. 57, published 1846 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 161
He who stands alone in the bright ring of life And has lost that which makes life precious, How his heart trembles when a precious strain [of music] From [distant]1 youth reaches his listening ear. Welcome, sounds! Your breath's fanning Awakens a slumbering world of thoughts, Tear-dimmed eyes learn to smile again, The sombre brow is suddenly lightened. The zephyr that in the rich [blossom]2 scents Of the Orient has [swayed]3 back and forth , Still disperses a breath of balsam in the breezes, When the flower already lies wilted on the ground. Thus, even if the dream of happiness has already vanished, Memory lives in the breath of music; A little song from [those]4 better times Brings all the old bliss back for us. Music, you mighty one, before you vanishes The most [expressive]5 word of our poor language; Why should one [speak]6 what the heart feels, When in you [, music,] the whole soul resounds. Words of friendship have often lied, Love deludes through eloquence; Music alone has never deceived a single heart And has made many thousands of hearts glad.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Musik" = "Music"
"Die Macht der Musik" = "The power of music"
"Wer einsam steht im bunten Lebenskreise" = "He who stands alone in the bright ring of life"
"Hymne an die Musik" = "Hymn to music"
2 Loewe: "flower"
3 Liszt: "moved"
4 Liszt: "distant"
5 Liszt: "most soulful"
6 Liszt: "be concerned about"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 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 Helene Luise Elisabeth zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Prinzessin (1814 - 1858), "Musik"
This text was added to the website: 2011-04-28
Line count: 24
Word count: 189