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Wie blitzen Die Sterne So hell durch die Nacht! Bin oft schon Darüber Vom Schlummer erwacht. Doch schelt' ich Die lichten Gebilde d'rum nicht, Sie üben Im Stillen Manch heilsame Pflicht. Sie wallen Hoch oben In Engelgestalt, [Und]1 leuchten Dem Pilger Durch Heiden und Wald. Sie schweben Als Bothen Der Liebe umher, Und tragen Oft Küsse Weit über das Meer. Sie blicken Dem Dulder Recht mild in's Gesicht, Und säumen Die Thränen Mit silbernem Licht. [Sie]2 weisen Von Gräbern Gar tröstlich und hold Uns hinter Das Blaue Mit Fingern von Gold. So sey denn Gesegnet Du strahlige Schar! Und leuchte Mir lange Noch freundlich und klar. Und wenn ich Einst liebe, Seyd hold dem Verein, Und euer Geflimmer Laßt Segen uns seyn.
Confirmed with Gedichte von Carl Gottfried Ritter von Leitner. Wien, gedruckt bey J. P. Sollinger. 1825, pages 19-21; and with Gedichte von Karl Gottfried Ritter v. Leitner. Zweite sehr vermehrte Auflage. Hannover. Victor Lohse. 1857, pages 28-29.
1 Schubert: "Sie"2 Schubert: "Und"
Authorship:
- by Karl Gottfried von Leitner (1800 - 1890), "Die Sterne", written 1819, first published 1825 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Anselm Hüttenbrenner (1794 - 1868), "Die Sterne", published 1825 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Die Sterne", op. 96 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, D 939 (1828), published 1828, first performed 1828 [ voice, piano ], Lithographisches Institut, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Les estrelles", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De sterren", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (David Gordon) , "The stars", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Les étoiles", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Le stelle", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: David Gordon , Rudi Spring , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 48
Word count: 122
How the stars glitter so brightly through the night! I've often been awakened by them from slumber. But I do not scold the shining ones for that, For secretly they perform many a benevolent task. They wander high above in the form of angels, They light the pilgrim's way through meadow and forest. They hover like heralds of love, And often bear kisses far away across the sea. They gaze tenderly into the face of the sufferer, And wipe his tears with silver light; And direct us away from the grave, comfortingly and gently, Beyond the blue sky with golden fingers. Now shall you be blessed, thou radiant throng! And long shine upon me with your clear, pleasing light! And should I one day fall in love, smile upon the bond, And let your twinkling bless us in return.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by David Gordon, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Gottfried von Leitner (1800 - 1890), "Die Sterne", written 1819, first published 1825
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 48
Word count: 139