Songs

Adelaide

by Ludwig van Beethoven

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Text & Translation

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Adelaide
German source: Matthison, Friedrich von

Einsam wandelt dein Freund im Frühlingsgarten,
Mild vom lieblichen Zauberlicht umflossen,
Das durch wankende Blütenzweige zittert,
Adelaide!

In der spiegelnden Flut, im Schnee der Alpen,
In des sinkenden Tages Goldgewölken,
Im Gefilde der Sterne strahlt dein Bildnis,
Adelaide!

Abendlüfte im zarten Laube flüstern,
Silberglöckchen des Mais im Grase säuseln,
Wellen rauschen und Nachtigallen flöten:
Adelaide!

Einst, o Wunder! entblüht auf meinem Grabe
Eine Blume der Asche meines Herzens;
Deutlich schimmert auf jedem Purpurblättchen:
Adelaide!

Adelaide
English translation © Richard Stokes

Your friend wanders lonely in the spring garden,
Gently bathed in the magical sweet light
That shimmers through swaying boughs in bloom,
Adelaide!

In the mirroring waves, in the Alpine snows,
In the golden clouds of the dying day,
In the fields of stars your image shines,
Adelaide!

Evening breezes whisper in the tender leaves,
The silvery bells of May rustle in the grass,
Waves murmur and nightingales sing:
Adelaide!

One day, O miracle! there shall bloom on my grave
A flower from the ashes of my heart;
On every purple leaf shall clearly shimmer:
Adelaide!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Adelaide
German source: Matthison, Friedrich von

Adelaide
English source: Richard Stokes

Einsam wandelt dein Freund im Frühlingsgarten,
Your friend wanders lonely in the spring garden,
Mild vom lieblichen Zauberlicht umflossen,
Gently bathed in the magical sweet light
Das durch wankende Blütenzweige zittert,
That shimmers through swaying boughs in bloom,
Adelaide!
Adelaide!

In der spiegelnden Flut, im Schnee der Alpen,
In the mirroring waves, in the Alpine snows,
In des sinkenden Tages Goldgewölken,
In the golden clouds of the dying day,
Im Gefilde der Sterne strahlt dein Bildnis,
In the fields of stars your image shines,
Adelaide!
Adelaide!

Abendlüfte im zarten Laube flüstern,
Evening breezes whisper in the tender leaves,
Silberglöckchen des Mais im Grase säuseln,
The silvery bells of May rustle in the grass,
Wellen rauschen und Nachtigallen flöten:
Waves murmur and nightingales sing:
Adelaide!
Adelaide!

Einst, o Wunder! entblüht auf meinem Grabe
One day, O miracle! there shall bloom on my grave
Eine Blume der Asche meines Herzens;
A flower from the ashes of my heart;
Deutlich schimmert auf jedem Purpurblättchen:
On every purple leaf shall clearly shimmer:
Adelaide!
Adelaide!

Composer

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the classical and romantic eras in classical music, he remains one of the most recognized and influential…

Poet

Matthison, Friedrich von

Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven. He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor,…

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