Songs
Mond verhüllt sein Angesicht
by Johannes Brahms From Zigeunerlieder, 'Gypsy Songs' (ensemble version) (1887) Op. 103
Text & Translation
Mond verhüllt sein Angesicht
German source:
Hugo Conrat
Süßes Lieb, ich zürne dir nicht.
Wollt ich zürnend dich betrüben,
Sprich wie könnt ich dich dann lieben?
Heiß für dich mein Herz entbrennt,
Keine Zunge dir’s bekennt.
Bald in Liebesrausch unsinnig,
Bald wie Täubchen sanft und innig.
The moon veils her face
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Sweet love, I do not chide you.
If I were to chide and sadden you—
Tell me, how could I then love you?
My heart is ablaze for you,
But no tongue confesses it.
My heart’s now insanely in love,
Now gentle and tender like a dove.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Mond verhüllt sein Angesicht
German source:
Hugo Conrat
The moon veils her face
English source:
Richard Stokes
Mond verhüllt sein Angesicht,
The moon veils her face,
Süßes Lieb, ich zürne dir nicht.
Sweet love, I do not chide you.
Wollt ich zürnend dich betrüben,
If I were to chide and sadden you—
Sprich wie könnt ich dich dann lieben?
Tell me, how could I then love you?
Heiß für dich mein Herz entbrennt,
My heart is ablaze for you,
Keine Zunge dir’s bekennt.
But no tongue confesses it.
Bald in Liebesrausch unsinnig,
My heart’s now insanely in love,
Bald wie Täubchen sanft und innig.
Now gentle and tender like a dove.
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.