Songs

Ganymed

by Hugo Wolf From Goethe-Lieder (1891)

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Text & Translation

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Ganymed
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Wie im Morgenglanze
Du rings mich anglühst,
Frühling, Geliebter!
Mit tausendfacher Liebeswonne
Sich an mein Herz drängt
Deiner ewigen Wärme
Heilig Gefühl,
Unendliche Schöne!
Dass ich dich fassen möcht’
In diesen Arm!

Ach, an deinem Busen
Lieg’ ich, schmachte,
Und deine Blumen, dein Gras
Drängen sich an mein Herz.
Du kühlst den brennenden
Durst meines Busens,
Lieblicher Morgenwind!
Ruft drein die Nachtigall
Liebend mach mir aus dem Nebeltal.
Ich komm’, ich komme!
Wohin? Ach wohin?

Hinauf! Hinauf strebt’s.
Es schweben die Wolken
Abwärts, die Wolken
Neigen sich der sehnenden Liebe.
Mir! Mir!
In euerm Schosse
Aufwärts!
Umfangend umfangen!
Aufwärts an deinen Busen,
Alliebender Vater!

Ganymede
English translation © Richard Wigmore

How your glow envelops me
in the morning radiance,
spring, my beloved!
With love’s thousandfold joy
the hallowed sensation
of your eternal warmth
floods my heart,
infinite beauty!
O that I might clasp you
in my arms!

Ah, on your breast
I lie languishing,
and your flowers, your grass
press close to my heart.
You cool the burning
thirst within my breast,
sweet morning breeze,
as the nightingale calls
tenderly to me from the misty valley.
I come, I come!
But whither? Ah, whither?

Upwards! Strive upwards!
The clouds drift
down, yielding
to yearning love,
to me, to me!
In your lap,
upwards,
embracing and embraced!
Upwards to your bosom,
all-loving Father!

Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

Ganymed
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Ganymede
English source: Richard Wigmore

Wie im Morgenglanze
How your glow envelops me
Du rings mich anglühst,
in the morning radiance,
Frühling, Geliebter!
spring, my beloved!
Mit tausendfacher Liebeswonne
With love’s thousandfold joy
Sich an mein Herz drängt
the hallowed sensation
Deiner ewigen Wärme
of your eternal warmth
Heilig Gefühl,
floods my heart,
Unendliche Schöne!
infinite beauty!
Dass ich dich fassen möcht’
O that I might clasp you
In diesen Arm!
in my arms!

Ach, an deinem Busen
Ah, on your breast
Lieg’ ich, schmachte,
I lie languishing,
Und deine Blumen, dein Gras
and your flowers, your grass
Drängen sich an mein Herz.
press close to my heart.
Du kühlst den brennenden
You cool the burning
Durst meines Busens,
thirst within my breast,
Lieblicher Morgenwind!
sweet morning breeze,
Ruft drein die Nachtigall
as the nightingale calls
Liebend mach mir aus dem Nebeltal.
tenderly to me from the misty valley.
Ich komm’, ich komme!
I come, I come!
Wohin? Ach wohin?
But whither? Ah, whither?

Hinauf! Hinauf strebt’s.
Upwards! Strive upwards!
Es schweben die Wolken
The clouds drift
Abwärts, die Wolken
down, yielding
Neigen sich der sehnenden Liebe.
to yearning love,
Mir! Mir!
to me, to me!
In euerm Schosse
In your lap,
Aufwärts!
upwards,
Umfangend umfangen!
embracing and embraced!
Aufwärts an deinen Busen,
Upwards to your bosom,
Alliebender Vater!
all-loving Father!

Composer

Hugo Wolf

Hugo Filipp Jakob Wolf was born on 13 March 1860, the fourth of six surviving children, in Windischgraz, Styria, then part of the Austrian Empire. He was taught the piano and violin by his father at an early age and continued to study piano at the…

Poet

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…

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