Text & Translation
An die untergehende Sonne
German source:
Kosegarten, Ludwig
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sink in Frieden, o Sonne!
Still und ruhig ist deines Scheidens Gang,
Rührend und feierlich deines Scheidens Schweigen.
Wehmut lächelt dein freundliches Auge,
Tränen entträufeln den goldenen Wimpern;
Segnungen strömst du der duftenden Erde.
Immer tiefer,
Immer leiser,
Immer ernster, feierlicher
Sinkest du den Äther hinab.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sink in Frieden, o Sonne!
Es segnen die Völker,
Es säuseln die Lüfte,
Es räuchern die dampfenden Wiesen dir nach;
Winde durchrieseln dein lockiges Haar;
Wogen kühlen die brennende Wange;
Weit auf tut sich dein Wasserbett . . .
Ruh’ in Frieden,
Ruh’ in Wonne!
Die Nachtigall flötet dir Schlummergesang.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sink in Frieden, o Sonne!
To the setting sun
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
Sun, you are sinking.
Sink in peace, O sun!
Calm and tranquil is your parting,
touching and solemn that parting’s silence.
Sadness smiles from your kindly eyes;
tears fall from your golden lashes;
you pour blessings upon the fragrant earth.
Ever deeper,
ever softer,
ever more grave and solemn,
you sink in the heavens.
Sun, you are sinking.
Sun, you are sinking.
Sink in peace, O sun!
The people bless you,
the breezes whisper;
mist drifts towards you from the hazy meadows;
the winds blow through your curly hair,
the waves cool your burning cheeks;
your watery bed opens wide.
Rest in peace,
rest in joy!
The nightingale is singing you lullabies.
Sun, you are sinking.
Sun, you are sinking.
Sink in peace, O sun!
An die untergehende Sonne
German source:
Kosegarten, Ludwig
To the setting sun
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sun, you are sinking.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sun, you are sinking.
Sink in Frieden, o Sonne!
Sink in peace, O sun!
Still und ruhig ist deines Scheidens Gang,
Calm and tranquil is your parting,
Rührend und feierlich deines Scheidens Schweigen.
touching and solemn that parting’s silence.
Wehmut lächelt dein freundliches Auge,
Sadness smiles from your kindly eyes;
Tränen entträufeln den goldenen Wimpern;
tears fall from your golden lashes;
Segnungen strömst du der duftenden Erde.
you pour blessings upon the fragrant earth.
Immer tiefer,
Ever deeper,
Immer leiser,
ever softer,
Immer ernster, feierlicher
ever more grave and solemn,
Sinkest du den Äther hinab.
you sink in the heavens.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sun, you are sinking.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sun, you are sinking.
Sink in Frieden, o Sonne!
Sink in peace, O sun!
Es segnen die Völker,
The people bless you,
Es säuseln die Lüfte,
the breezes whisper;
Es räuchern die dampfenden Wiesen dir nach;
mist drifts towards you from the hazy meadows;
Winde durchrieseln dein lockiges Haar;
the winds blow through your curly hair,
Wogen kühlen die brennende Wange;
the waves cool your burning cheeks;
Weit auf tut sich dein Wasserbett . . .
your watery bed opens wide.
Ruh’ in Frieden,
Rest in peace,
Ruh’ in Wonne!
rest in joy!
Die Nachtigall flötet dir Schlummergesang.
The nightingale is singing you lullabies.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sun, you are sinking.
Sonne, du sinkst,
Sun, you are sinking.
Sink in Frieden, o Sonne!
Sink in peace, O sun!
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
Kosegarten, Ludwig
Ludwig Gotthard Kosegarten, also known as Ludwig Theobul or Ludwig Theoboul, was a German poet and Lutheran preacher. Kosegarten was born in Grevesmühlen, in the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. After studying theology at the University of…