Songs

He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!

by Johannes Brahms From Zigeunerlieder, 'Gypsy Songs' (ensemble version) (1887) Op. 103

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Text & Translation

View IPA

He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!
German source: Hugo Conrat

He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!
Spiel das Lied vom ungetreuen Mägdelein!
Laß die Saiten weinen, klagen, traurig bange,
Bis die heiße Träne netzet diese Wange!

Hey, gypsy, sound your strings!
English translation © Richard Stokes

Hey, gypsy, sound your strings!
Play the song of the faithless girl!
Make the strings weep and moan in sad despair
Till hot tears moisten these cheeks!

Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!
German source: Hugo Conrat

Hey, gypsy, sound your strings!
English source: Richard Stokes

He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!
Hey, gypsy, sound your strings!
Spiel das Lied vom ungetreuen Mägdelein!
Play the song of the faithless girl!
Laß die Saiten weinen, klagen, traurig bange,
Make the strings weep and moan in sad despair
Bis die heiße Träne netzet diese Wange!
Till hot tears moisten these cheeks!

Composer

Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna.  Brahms has been considered, by his…

Poet

Hugo Conrat

Hugo Conrat is most known for his German adaptations of the Hungarian folksongs in Zigeunerlieder (Brahms).  He was a member of Brahms' circle in Vienna.

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