Text & Translation
An die Nacht
German source:
Clemens Brentano
Sterngeschloss’ner Himmelsfriede!
Alles, was das Licht geschieden,
Ist verbunden,
Alle Wunden
Bluten süß im Abendrot!
Bjelbog’s Speer, Bjelbog’s Speer
Sinkt in’s Herz der trunknen Erde,
Die mit seliger Geberde
Eine Rose
In dem Schoße
Dunkler Lüste niedertaucht!
Heilige Nacht! züchtige Braut, züchtige Braut!
Deine süße Schmach verhülle,
Wenn des Hochzeitbechers Fülle
Sich ergießet.
Also fließet
In die brünstige Nacht der Tag!
To the night
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Heavenly peace, encircled in stars!
All things divided by light,
Are united,
All our wounds
Bleed sweetly in the sunset!
Bielbog’s spear, Bielbog’s spear
Plunges into the heart of the drunken earth,
Which with a gesture of bliss
Immerses a rose
In the womb
Of darkened desire!
Holy night! chaste bride, chaste bride!
Veil your sweet shame,
When the wedding-cup
Overflows.
Thus does day
Stream into fervent night!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
An die Nacht
German source:
Clemens Brentano
To the night
English source:
Richard Stokes
Heilige Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Holy night, holy night!
Sterngeschloss’ner Himmelsfriede!
Heavenly peace, encircled in stars!
Alles, was das Licht geschieden,
All things divided by light,
Ist verbunden,
Are united,
Alle Wunden
All our wounds
Bluten süß im Abendrot!
Bleed sweetly in the sunset!
Bjelbog’s Speer, Bjelbog’s Speer
Bielbog’s spear, Bielbog’s spear
Sinkt in’s Herz der trunknen Erde,
Plunges into the heart of the drunken earth,
Die mit seliger Geberde
Which with a gesture of bliss
Eine Rose
Immerses a rose
In dem Schoße
In the womb
Dunkler Lüste niedertaucht!
Of darkened desire!
Heilige Nacht! züchtige Braut, züchtige Braut!
Holy night! chaste bride, chaste bride!
Deine süße Schmach verhülle,
Veil your sweet shame,
Wenn des Hochzeitbechers Fülle
When the wedding-cup
Sich ergießet.
Overflows.
Also fließet
Thus does day
In die brünstige Nacht der Tag!
Stream into fervent night!
Composer
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems. Read more here.
Poet
Clemens Brentano
Clemens Wenzeslaus Brentano (also Klemens; pseudonym: Clemens Maria Brentano; 9 September 1778 – 28 July 1842) was a German poet and novelist, and a major figure of German Romanticism. Read more here. Read some of his selected poems in German here.
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Oxford Lieder at Fairlight Hall: Olivia Boen & Sholto Kynoch 15 May 2022
- Oxford Lieder at Rye Creative Centre: Olivia Boen & Sholto Kynoch 14 May 2022
- Oxford Lieder at Cedars Hall: Olivia Boen & Sholto Kynoch 12 May 2022
- Song at Wolfson: Olivia Boen & Sholto Kynoch 05 May 2022
- Mastercourse Concert 27 Oct 2018