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Mein Schatz will Hochzeit halten, Ich liege auf den Tod Und nehme mit [zu]1 Grabe, Was ich in Schmerz und Noth Um ihn gelitten habe. An meinem Fenster [blühen]2 Gelbveigel und Rosmarin; Wenn ich von Lieb und Jammer Hinweggeschieden bin, Tragt still sie aus der Kammer! Zwei Sträußlein sollt ihr binden, Eins heftet mir an's Kleid, Eins sendet meinem Knaben; Es ist für alle Zeit Die letzte meiner Gaben. O dürft' ich ungesehen Dem frohen Paare nah'n, Und, wenn die Glocken läuten, [Ihn segnend noch]3 umfah'n, -- Und treten still beiseiten.
Confirmed with Deutscher Dichterwald. Lyrische Anthologie von Georg Scherer, Vierte Auflage, Stuttgart, Eduard Hallberger, 1874, pages 517-518. Note: modern German would change the following spellings: "Noth" -> "Not"
1 Bill: "zum"2 Bill: "blüh'n"
3 Bill: "und segnend ihn" (nonsensical)
Text Authorship:
- by Wilhelm Ritter von Hertz, Dr. (1835 - 1902), "Letzter Wunsch", appears in Gedichte, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe, pages 70-71, first published 1859 [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 Johannes Bartz (1848 - 1933), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 16 (5 Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 4, published 1893 [ medium voice and piano ], Zittau, Loebel [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Bill (1863 - 1936), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Josef Giehrl (1857 - 1893), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 4 (Sechs Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1891 [ voice and piano ], München, Halbreiter [sung text not yet checked]
- by Adolf Jensen (1837 - 1879), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 14 (6 Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1 (1864), published 1864 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 17 (Zwei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1885 [ sorpano or tenor and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 55 no. 8 (1863), published 1871 [ soprano and piano ], from Liebesleben. Ein Cyclus von 8 Liedern, no. 8, Leipzig, Forberg [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Letzter Wunsch", 1864, published 2004, second version [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Heinrich Kaspar Schmid (1874 - 1953), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 9 (Lieder und Duette mit Begleitung des Klaviers) no. 2, published 1906 [ voice and piano ], München: Dr. Heinrich Lewy ; Schott [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 36 (Drei Mädchenlieder) no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Max Zenger (1837 - 1911), "Letzter Wunsch", op. 3 (Acht kleine Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung) no. 6, published c1865 [ voice and piano ], Stuttgart: Ebner [sung text checked 1 time]
Another version of this text exists in the database.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Last wish", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Dernière volonté", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Peter Donderwinkel , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 93
My beloved wishes to celebrate his wedding, I am lying near to death And take along with me into the grave That which, in pain and misery I have suffered because of him. At my window there bloom Wallflowers and rosemary; When I have passed away From love and sorrow, Carry them quietly from the room! Two bouquets you are to make; Attach one of them to my gown, Send one of them to my lad; It is for all time The last gift I shall bestow upon him. Oh if, unseen, I could Draw near to the happy couple, And, when the bells ring, Embrace him yet with my blessing, -- And then quietly turn aside.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2012 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 Wilhelm Ritter von Hertz, Dr. (1835 - 1902), "Letzter Wunsch", appears in Gedichte, Hamburg: Hoffmann und Campe, pages 70-71, first published 1859
This text was added to the website: 2012-07-14
Line count: 20
Word count: 116