Songs

Geist der Liebe, D747

by Franz Schubert

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Geist der Liebe, D747
German source: Matthison, Friedrich von

Der Abend schleiert Flur und Hain
In traulichholde Dämmrung ein;
Hell flimmt, wo gold’ne Wölkchen ziehn,
Der Stern der Liebeskönigin.

Die Wogenflut hallt Schlummerklang,
Die Bäume lispeln Abendsang,
Der Wiese Gras umgaukelt lind
Mit Sylphenkuss der Frühlingswind.

Der Geist der Liebe wirkt und strebt,
Wo nur ein Puls der Schöpfung bebt;
Im Strom, wo Wog’ in Woge fliesst,
Im Hain, wo Blatt an Blatt sich schliesst.

O Geist der Liebe! führe du
Dem Jüngling die Erkorne zu!
Ein Minneblick der Trauten hellt
Mit Himmelsglanz die Erdenwelt!

Spirit of Love
English translation © Richard Wigmore

Evening veils meadow and grove
in sweet, friendly dusk;
brightly, amid passing golden clouds,
the star of Venus shines.

The waves murmur lullabies,
the trees whisper evensong,
with delicate kisses the spring breeze
plays gently in the meadow grass.

The spirit of love is busy at work
wherever the pulse of creation beats;
in the torrent, where wave flows into wave,
in the grove, where leaf clings to leaf.

O spirit of love, lead the youth
to his chosen one!
One tender glance from his beloved
will fill this world with heavenly radiance.

Geist der Liebe, D747
German source: Matthison, Friedrich von

Spirit of Love
English source: Richard Wigmore

Der Abend schleiert Flur und Hain
Evening veils meadow and grove
In traulichholde Dämmrung ein;
in sweet, friendly dusk;
Hell flimmt, wo gold’ne Wölkchen ziehn,
brightly, amid passing golden clouds,
Der Stern der Liebeskönigin.
the star of Venus shines.

Die Wogenflut hallt Schlummerklang,
The waves murmur lullabies,
Die Bäume lispeln Abendsang,
the trees whisper evensong,
Der Wiese Gras umgaukelt lind
with delicate kisses the spring breeze
Mit Sylphenkuss der Frühlingswind.
plays gently in the meadow grass.

Der Geist der Liebe wirkt und strebt,
The spirit of love is busy at work
Wo nur ein Puls der Schöpfung bebt;
wherever the pulse of creation beats;
Im Strom, wo Wog’ in Woge fliesst,
in the torrent, where wave flows into wave,
Im Hain, wo Blatt an Blatt sich schliesst.
in the grove, where leaf clings to leaf.

O Geist der Liebe! führe du
O spirit of love, lead the youth
Dem Jüngling die Erkorne zu!
to his chosen one!
Ein Minneblick der Trauten hellt
One tender glance from his beloved
Mit Himmelsglanz die Erdenwelt!
will fill this world with heavenly radiance.

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,…

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