Die Mainacht
Wann der silberne Mond durch die Gesträuche blinkt,
Und sein schlummerndes Licht über den Rasen streut,
Und die Nachtigall flötet,
Wandl' ich traurig von Busch zu Busch.
Und sein schlummerndes Licht über den Rasen streut,
Und die Nachtigall flötet,
Wandl' ich traurig von Busch zu Busch.
When the silver moon gleams through the bushes
and scatters its slumbering light over the grass,
and the nightingale sings like a flute,
I wander sadly from bush to bush.
and scatters its slumbering light over the grass,
and the nightingale sings like a flute,
I wander sadly from bush to bush.
Überhüllet vom Laub, girret ein Taubenpaar
Sein Entzücken mir vor; aber ich wende mich,
Suche dunklere Schatten,
Und die einsame Träne rinnt.
Sein Entzücken mir vor; aber ich wende mich,
Suche dunklere Schatten,
Und die einsame Träne rinnt.
Hidden in the leaves, a pair of doves
coos its delight before me; but I turn away,
seek darker shadows,
and the lonely tear flows.
coos its delight before me; but I turn away,
seek darker shadows,
and the lonely tear flows.
Wann, o lächelndes Bild, welches wie Morgenrot
Durch die Seele mir strahlt, find' ich auf Erden dich?
Und die einsame Träne
Bebt mir heißer die Wang' herab.
Durch die Seele mir strahlt, find' ich auf Erden dich?
Und die einsame Träne
Bebt mir heißer die Wang' herab.
When, O smiling image, which like the dawn
shines through my soul, shall I find you on earth?
And the lonely tear
trembles more hotly down my cheek.
shines through my soul, shall I find you on earth?
And the lonely tear
trembles more hotly down my cheek.
About the song. Hölty, who died of tuberculosis at twenty-seven, wrote this poem of lonely longing in 1774. It first appeared in the Göttinger Musenalmanach of 1775. Brahms used the version revised by Hölty's friend Johann Heinrich Voss (Hölty wrote 'Wenn … blickt' and 'geußt' where Voss has 'Wann … blinkt' and 'streut') and left out the second stanza, in which the poet envies the nightingale its mate. The broad, slowly rising vocal line makes the song a favourite of lower voices. 'Wann' at the start means 'when(ever)', not a question; the second 'Wann' is a real question.
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Translation © Art Song Translations. You may print it free of charge in concert and recital programs with the credit "Translation: Art Song Translations". The German text is in the public domain; repetitions made by the composer are not printed.
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