Singable translation by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892)
Translation Singable translation possibly by Constance Bache (1846 - 1903) and possibly by William Stigand, né Stigant (1825 - 1915)
Der fallende Stern
Language: German (Deutsch) after the Russian (Русский)
Er schoß herab - im [nächtgen]1 Grauen Sah ich, wie er sich niederschwang, Doch fand nicht Zeit ihm zu vertrauen, Was wünschend mir das Herz durchdrang. Ich sah ihn fallen und entschweben: Warum ward ich nicht auch geweiht, Wie dieser Stern, zu einem Leben Der Freiheit und der Schnelligkeit? Gleichwie der Stern könnt' ich vom Himmel Mich stürzen in die blaue Fern, Und fliegen durch das Weltgetümmel Und glanzvoll sterben wie der Stern.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 Rubinstein: "mächt'gen"
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
1 Rubinstein: "mächt'gen"
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Der fallende Stern", appears in Lieder aus der Fremde: In Beiträgen von Friedrich Bodenstedt, Adolf Elissen, Ferdinand Freiligrath, usw., first published 1857 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Evdokiya Petrovna Grafinya Rostopchina (1812 - 1858), "Падучая звезда", written 1839
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein (1829 - 1894), "Der fallende Stern", op. 36 (Zwölf Lieder aus dem Russischem von F. Bodenstedt) no. 11 (1849-51) [ voice and piano ], Wien, Spina, also set in Russian (Русский) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Constance Bache) (William Stigand, né Stigant) , "The falling star"
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 73
The falling star
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Swift down he fell, in grandeur darting The mighty heav'n he pass'd along, Just as I fain would be imparting The wish that in my heart was strong. I saw him fall to live in story. Ah! why was I not destin'd too To live a life like his of glory, Of swiftness and of freedom true. Oh could I fly thro' heav'ns blue ocean, A splendour to be mark'd afar! Dash wildly thro' the world's commotion, Then perish glorious like that star!
Note: from a Rubinstein score. It is unclear which of the two translators listed on the front page wrote this particular translation.
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation possibly by Constance Bache (1846 - 1903), "The falling star" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
- Singable translation possibly by William Stigand, né Stigant (1825 - 1915), "The falling star" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819 - 1892), "Der fallende Stern", appears in Lieder aus der Fremde: In Beiträgen von Friedrich Bodenstedt, Adolf Elissen, Ferdinand Freiligrath, usw., first published 1857
Based on:
- a text in Russian (Русский) by Evdokiya Petrovna Grafinya Rostopchina (1812 - 1858), "Падучая звезда", written 1839
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2011-06-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 83