Songs

An die Nachtigall

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

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An die Nachtigall
German source: Matthias Claudius

Er liegt und schläft an meinem Herzen,
Mein guter Schutzgeist sang ihn ein;
Und ich kann fröhlich sein und scherzen, 
Kann jeder Blum’ und jedes Blatts mich freun. 
Nachtigall, ach! Nachtigall, ach!
Sing mir den Amor nicht wach!

To the Nightingale
English translation © Richard Wigmore

He lies sleeping upon my heart;
my kind tutelary spirit sang him to sleep. 
And I can be merry and jest,
delight in every flower and leaf. 
Nightingale, ah, nightingale,
do not awaken my love with your singing!

An die Nachtigall
German source: Matthias Claudius

To the Nightingale
English source: Richard Wigmore

Er liegt und schläft an meinem Herzen,
He lies sleeping upon my heart;
Mein guter Schutzgeist sang ihn ein;
my kind tutelary spirit sang him to sleep. 
Und ich kann fröhlich sein und scherzen, 
And I can be merry and jest,
Kann jeder Blum’ und jedes Blatts mich freun. 
delight in every flower and leaf. 
Nachtigall, ach! Nachtigall, ach!
Nightingale, ah, nightingale,
Sing mir den Amor nicht wach!
do not awaken my love with your singing!

Composer

Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…

Poet

Matthias Claudius

Matthias Claudius was a German poet, most notable for Der Mond ist aufgegangen (The Moon Has Risen) and editor of the journal Der Wandsbecker Bothe.  After studying at Jena, Claudius held a series of editorial and minor official positions in…

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