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Leichte Silberwolken schweben Durch die erst erwärmten Lüfte, Mild, von Schimmer sanft umgeben, Blickt die Sonne durch die Düfte. Leise wallt und drängt die Welle Sich am reichen Ufer hin; Und wie reingewaschen helle, Schwankend hin und her und hin, Spiegelt sich das junge Grün. [Still ist Luft und Lüftchen stille; Was bewegt mir das Gezweige? Schwüle Liebe dieser Fülle, Von den Bäumen durchs Gesträuche. Nun der Blick auf einmal helle, Sieh! der Bübchen Flatterschar, Das bewegt und regt so schnelle, Wie der Morgen sie gebar, Flügelhaft sich Paar und Paar. Fangen an, das Dach zu flechten - Wer bedürfte dieser Hütte? - Und wie Zimmrer, die gerechten, Bank und Tischchen in der Mitte! Und so bin ich noch verwundert, Sonne sinkt, ich fühl es kaum; Und nun führen aberhundert Mir das Liebchen in den Raum, Tag und Abend, welch ein Traum!]1
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View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Gál.
Authorship
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Mai" [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 Adolph Bernhard Marx (1795 - 1866), "Der 15. Mai", op. 2 no. 9, published 1830 [voice and piano], from Zwölf Gesänge, no. 9, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Arnold Mendelssohn (1855 - 1933), "Mai", published 1910 [ sung text not yet checked against a primary source]
- by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805 - 1847), "Mai", 1836 [duet for soprano and alto with piano] [ sung text checked 1 time]
This text (or a part of it) is used in a work
- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Natur", op. 70 no. 4 (1955), published 1956, first performed 1956 [SATB soli, mixed chorus (boys, SATB), and orchestra], from Lebenskreise, no. 4, Alkor Edition, Kassel
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [an adaptation] FRE ; composed by Edward Alexander MacDowell.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Mai", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:01:30
Line count: 27
Word count: 142
De légers nuages d'argent planent Dans les airs tout juste réchauffés, Clément, entouré d'un doux éclat, Le soleil se montre dans les parfums. La vague ondoie doucement Et déborde sur la rive fertile; Et claire, comme immaculée , Se balançant ici , et çà et là La verdure nouvelle s'y mire. L'air est immobile et les zéphirs calmes; Qui fait bouger les branchages? L'oppressant amour de cette profusion, Des arbres jusqu'aux buisson. Tout à coup la vue s'éclaircit. Vois ! La troupe ailée des petits Qui si vite s'éveillent et s'agitent, Quand le matin les enfante, Et s'envolent deux par deux. Ils commencent à tresser leur toit -- Qui avait besoin de cette cabane ? -- Et comme pour une chambre, ils installent Banc et table dans le milieu ! Et je suis encore si émerveillé Que je sens à peine le soleil se coucher ; Et maintenant par centaines il conduisent Ma bien-aimée vers moi à travers l'espace, Jour et nuit, quel rêve !
Authorship
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2012 by Pierre Mathé, (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.
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- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Mai"
Text added to the website: 2012-02-03 00:00:00
Last modified: 2014-06-16 10:04:45
Line count: 27
Word count: 163