Songs

Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort

by Clara Schumann From Sechs Lieder aus Jucunde (1853) Op. 23

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Text & Translation

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Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort
German source: Hermann Rollett

Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort,
Verborg’nes Quellenrauschen,
O Wald, o Wald, geweihter Ort,
Laß mich des Liebens reinstes Wort,
in Zweig und Blatt belauschen!

Und schreit’ ich in den Wald hinaus,
Da grüßen mich die Bäume,
Du liebes, freies Gotteshaus,
Du schließest mich mit Sturmgebraus
In deine kühlen Räume!

Was leise mich umschwebt, umklingt,
Ich will es treu bewahren,
Und was mir tief zum Herzen dringt,
Will ich, vom Geist der Lieb’ beschwingt,
In Liedern offenbaren!

Secret whisperings
English translation © Richard Stokes

Secret whisperings here and there,
Hidden, murmuring springs,
O forest, O forest, consecrated place,
Let me listen in bough and foliage
To life’s most pure word!

And when I walk out into the forest,
I am greeted by the trees,
You fair, unfettered house of God,
You enfold me with your howling storm
In your cool spaces!

All that surrounds and whispers round me,
I shall faithfully preserve,
And all that oppresses my heart
I shall, elated by the spirit of love,
Express in song!

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort
German source: Hermann Rollett

Secret whisperings
English source: Richard Stokes

Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort,
Secret whisperings here and there,
Verborg’nes Quellenrauschen,
Hidden, murmuring springs,
O Wald, o Wald, geweihter Ort,
O forest, O forest, consecrated place,
Laß mich des Liebens reinstes Wort,
Let me listen in bough and foliage
in Zweig und Blatt belauschen!
To life’s most pure word!

Und schreit’ ich in den Wald hinaus,
And when I walk out into the forest,
Da grüßen mich die Bäume,
I am greeted by the trees,
Du liebes, freies Gotteshaus,
You fair, unfettered house of God,
Du schließest mich mit Sturmgebraus
You enfold me with your howling storm
In deine kühlen Räume!
In your cool spaces!

Was leise mich umschwebt, umklingt,
All that surrounds and whispers round me,
Ich will es treu bewahren,
I shall faithfully preserve,
Und was mir tief zum Herzen dringt,
And all that oppresses my heart
Will ich, vom Geist der Lieb’ beschwingt,
I shall, elated by the spirit of love,
In Liedern offenbaren!
Express in song!

Composer

Clara Schumann

Clara Schumann (1819-96) née Wieck is one of the most significant women in musical history. Apart from being a tremendously successful pianist and pedagogue, she wrote numerous songs alongside other works in various genres. She also transformed the…

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