Der Abend
German source:
Matthison, Friedrich von
Nach der Sonne Scheideblick,
Lieblich strahlt des Baches Spiegel
Hespers Fackelglanz zurück.
Wie in Totenhallen düster
Wird’s im Pappelweidenhain,
Unter leisem Blattgeflüster
Schlummern alle Vögel ein.
Nur dein Abendlied, o Grille!
Tönt noch aus betautem Grün,
Durch der Dämmrung Zauberhülle
Süsse Trauermelodien.
Tönst du einst im Abendhauche,
Grillchen, auf mein frühes Grab,
Aus der Freundschaft Rosenstrauchs,
Deinen Klaggesang herab:
Wird noch stets mein Geist dir lauschen,
Horchend wie er jetzt dir lauscht,
Durch des Hügels Blumen rauschen,
Wie dies Sommerlüftchen rauscht!
The Evening
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
after the sun’s parting glance;
the brook’s mirror reflects
the lovely gleaming torch of Hesperus.
In the poplar grove
it grows dark, as in the vaults of death.
Beneath softly whispering leaves
all the birds fall asleep.
Only your evening song, O cricket,
echoes from the dewy grass,
wafting sweet, mournful melodies
through the enchanted cloak of dusk.
Cricket, if one day
you sound your lament in the evening breeze
over my early grave,
from the rosebush planted by friends,
My spirit will always listen to you
as it listens to you now,
and murmur through the flowers on the hillside
as this summer breeze murmurs.
Der Abend
German source:
Matthison, Friedrich von
The Evening
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Purpur malt die Tannenhügel
The pine-covered hills are painted with purple
Nach der Sonne Scheideblick,
after the sun’s parting glance;
Lieblich strahlt des Baches Spiegel
the brook’s mirror reflects
Hespers Fackelglanz zurück.
the lovely gleaming torch of Hesperus.
Wie in Totenhallen düster
In the poplar grove
Wird’s im Pappelweidenhain,
it grows dark, as in the vaults of death.
Unter leisem Blattgeflüster
Beneath softly whispering leaves
Schlummern alle Vögel ein.
all the birds fall asleep.
Nur dein Abendlied, o Grille!
Only your evening song, O cricket,
Tönt noch aus betautem Grün,
echoes from the dewy grass,
Durch der Dämmrung Zauberhülle
wafting sweet, mournful melodies
Süsse Trauermelodien.
through the enchanted cloak of dusk.
Tönst du einst im Abendhauche,
Cricket, if one day
Grillchen, auf mein frühes Grab,
you sound your lament in the evening breeze
Aus der Freundschaft Rosenstrauchs,
over my early grave,
Deinen Klaggesang herab:
from the rosebush planted by friends,
Wird noch stets mein Geist dir lauschen,
My spirit will always listen to you
Horchend wie er jetzt dir lauscht,
as it listens to you now,
Durch des Hügels Blumen rauschen,
and murmur through the flowers on the hillside
Wie dies Sommerlüftchen rauscht!
as this summer breeze murmurs.
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
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,…