Songs

Kornblumen

by Richard Strauss From Mädchenblumen (1868) Op. 22

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Text & Translation

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Kornblumen
German source: Felix Dahn

Kornblumen nenn ich die Gestalten,
die milden mit den blauen Augen,
die, anspruchslos in stillem Walten,
den Tau des Friedens, den sie saugen
aus ihren eigenen klaren Seelen,
mitteilen allem, dem sie nahen,
bewußtlos der Gefühlsjuwelen,
die sie von Himmelshand empfahn.
Dir wird so wohl in ihrer Nähe,
als gingst du durch ein Saatgefilde,
durch das der Hauch des Abends wehe,
voll frommen Friedens und voll Milde.

Cornflowers (2011)
English translation © Richard Stokes

Cornflowers are what I call those girls,
Those gentle girls with blue eyes,
Who simply and serenely impart
The dew of peace, which they draw
From their own pure souls,
To all those they approach,
Unaware of the jewels of feeling
They receive from the hand of Heaven:
You feel so at ease in their company,
As though you were walking through a cornfield,
Rippled by the breath of evening,
Full of devout peace and gentleness.

Kornblumen
German source: Felix Dahn

Cornflowers (2011)
English source: Richard Stokes

Kornblumen nenn ich die Gestalten,
Cornflowers are what I call those girls,
die milden mit den blauen Augen,
Those gentle girls with blue eyes,
die, anspruchslos in stillem Walten,
Who simply and serenely impart
den Tau des Friedens, den sie saugen
The dew of peace, which they draw
aus ihren eigenen klaren Seelen,
From their own pure souls,
mitteilen allem, dem sie nahen,
To all those they approach,
bewußtlos der Gefühlsjuwelen,
Unaware of the jewels of feeling
die sie von Himmelshand empfahn.
They receive from the hand of Heaven:
Dir wird so wohl in ihrer Nähe,
You feel so at ease in their company,
als gingst du durch ein Saatgefilde,
As though you were walking through a cornfield,
durch das der Hauch des Abends wehe,
Rippled by the breath of evening,
voll frommen Friedens und voll Milde.
Full of devout peace and gentleness.

Composer

Richard Strauss

Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.  Read more here.

Poet

Felix Dahn

Felix Dahn was a German law professor, author, poet and historian.

Performances

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