Johannis war gekommen
German source:
Moritz Horn
Johannis war gekommen,
Der Erde Hochzeitstag,
Wo sie als Braut am Herzen
Des lieben Frühlings lag.
Die stille Nacht umschleiert
Den Schlummer der Natur.
Das blasse Licht des Mondes
Durchwandelt Hain und Flur.
Die kleinen Blättchen schwirren
Kaum hörbar in dem Baum,
Um Schilf und Wasserblumen
Schwebt Schlaf und Abendtraum.
_Alt:_
Was ist auf jener Wiese
Für zauberischer Sang,
Und unterm Frühlingsgrase
Für wunderlicher Klang?
St John’s Day had come
English translation ©
Sharon Krebs
St John’s day had come,
The wedding day of the world,
When she the world lies like a bride
On the bosom of beloved spring.
The quiet night veils
The slumber of nature.
The pale light of the moon
Wanders through the grove and fields.
The little leaves are whirring
Almost inaudibly in the tree.
Around the reeds and waterlilies
Waft sleep and evening dreams.
_Alto:_
What magical singing
Sounds on yonder meadow?
And under the spring grasses
What fantastical sounds?
Translations by Sharon Krebs first published in 2009 at lieder.net, and reprinted by Carus-Verlag
Johannis war gekommen
German source:
Moritz Horn
St John’s Day had come
English source:
Sharon Krebs
_Tenor:_
_Tenor:_
Johannis war gekommen,
St John’s day had come,
Der Erde Hochzeitstag,
The wedding day of the world,
Wo sie als Braut am Herzen
When she the world lies like a bride
Des lieben Frühlings lag.
On the bosom of beloved spring.
Die stille Nacht umschleiert
The quiet night veils
Den Schlummer der Natur.
The slumber of nature.
Das blasse Licht des Mondes
The pale light of the moon
Durchwandelt Hain und Flur.
Wanders through the grove and fields.
Die kleinen Blättchen schwirren
The little leaves are whirring
Kaum hörbar in dem Baum,
Almost inaudibly in the tree.
Um Schilf und Wasserblumen
Around the reeds and waterlilies
Schwebt Schlaf und Abendtraum.
Waft sleep and evening dreams.
_Alt:_
_Alto:_
Was ist auf jener Wiese
What magical singing
Für zauberischer Sang,
Sounds on yonder meadow?
Und unterm Frühlingsgrase
And under the spring grasses
Für wunderlicher Klang?
What fantastical sounds?
Composer
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…
