Songs

Colombine

by Arnold Schoenberg From Pierrot Lunaire (1912) Op. 21

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Text & Translation

Colombine
German source: Otto Erich Hartleben

Des Mondlichts bleiche Blüten,
Die weißen Wunderrosen,
Blühn in den Julinachten -
O brach ich eine nur!

Mein banges Leid zu lindern,
Such ich am dunklen Strome
Des Mondlichts bleiche Blüten,
Die weißen Wunderrosen.

Gestillt wär all mein Sehnen,
Dürft ich so märchenheimlich,
So selig leis - entblättern
Auf deine brauenen Haare
Des Mondlichts bleiche Blüten!

Columbine (1996)
English translation © Roger Marsh

The moonlight’s bleached white blossoms,
Those white amazing roses,
Bloom on this night in August,
O to pick one; to pick just one!

To ease my painful longing,
I search in darkening waters,
For moonlight’s bleached white blossoms,
Those white amazing roses.

I’d cease from all my yearning
If I could have my one wish –
O sweet delight! I’d scatter
Upon your lovely brown hair
The moonlight’s bleached white blossoms!

Colombine
German source: Otto Erich Hartleben

Columbine (1996)
English source: Roger Marsh

Des Mondlichts bleiche Blüten,
The moonlight’s bleached white blossoms,
Die weißen Wunderrosen,
Those white amazing roses,
Blühn in den Julinachten -
Bloom on this night in August,
O brach ich eine nur!
O to pick one; to pick just one!

Mein banges Leid zu lindern,
To ease my painful longing,
Such ich am dunklen Strome
I search in darkening waters,
Des Mondlichts bleiche Blüten,
For moonlight’s bleached white blossoms,
Die weißen Wunderrosen.
Those white amazing roses.

Gestillt wär all mein Sehnen,
I’d cease from all my yearning
Dürft ich so märchenheimlich,
If I could have my one wish –
So selig leis - entblättern
O sweet delight! I’d scatter
Auf deine brauenen Haare
Upon your lovely brown hair
Des Mondlichts bleiche Blüten!
The moonlight’s bleached white blossoms!

Composer

Arnold Schoenberg

Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg or Schönberg was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter. He was associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School.

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