possibly by Georg Ludwig Heinrich Lang (1836 - 1920)
Translation Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912)
Die Wellen
Language: German (Deutsch)
Wer will uns binden, Ketten erfinden, die uns die hellen munteren Wellen fesseln an's Land? Felsen und Steine halten uns keine; jene umhüpfen, diese umschlüpfen all' wir gewand. Nächtliche Weile hemmt nicht die Eile, noch auch vermag es Hitze des Tages, Schlaf ist uns fremd. Aber nur Einen fürchten wir kleinen, munteren Wellen, einen Gesellen, welcher uns hemmt. Winter, der arge, wandelt zum Sarge unsere Betten, schlägt uns in Ketten, bannt unsern Fuss! Bis dann gelinde westliche Winde Freiheit uns bringen Und Frühlingsgruss!
Note: the score says only "Georg Lang"
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Georg Ludwig Heinrich Lang (1836 - 1920) [author's text not yet checked 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 Hans Hermann (1870 - 1931), "Die Wellen", op. 2 (Duette für zwei Singstimmen mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1897 [ vocal duet with piano ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen Verlag, also set in English [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912) ; composed by Hans Hermann.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-08-29
Line count: 29
Word count: 83
The waves
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
Who shall detain us; who shall enchain us, waves of the ocean, ever in motion, born to be free? Rock, cave nor boulders, nothing can hold us; once we have found them dancing around them, shouting with glee. Darkness we heed not, sunlight we need not; nor can the heat of day make us retreat or stay, we know no sleep. One we dread sore, [none do]1 we fear more, one whom we must obey, one who has pow'r to stay waves of the deep. Winter with cruel hands locks us in icy bands. Stays us with freezing breath not e'en the hand of Death firmer doth cling! Till westwinds blow melt away ice and snow, sweet songs they sing us, [freedom they bring us and greetings]2 of spring.
View original text (without footnotes)
1 in the alto line: "nothing"
2 in the soprano line: "bringing us freedom and songs"
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
1 in the alto line: "nothing"
2 in the soprano line: "bringing us freedom and songs"
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation by John Bernhoff (flourished 1890-1912) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) possibly by Georg Ludwig Heinrich Lang (1836 - 1920)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Hans Hermann (1870 - 1931), "The waves", op. 2 (Duette für zwei Singstimmen mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1897 [ vocal duet with piano ], Magdeburg, Heinrichshofen Verlag, also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-08-29
Line count: 30
Word count: 131