Songs

Nähe des Geliebten

by Amy Beach From Four Songs (1897) Op. 35

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Text & Translation

Nähe des Geliebten (1795)
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer
Vom Meere strahlt;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
In Quellen mahlt.

Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
Der Staub sich hebt;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
Der Wandrer bebt.

Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
Die Welle steigt.
Im stillen Haine geh' ich oft zu lauschen,
Wenn alles schweigt.

Ich bin bei dir, du seyst auch noch so ferne,
Du bist mir nah!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
O wärst du da!

Nearness of the Beloved
English translation © Richard Wigmore

I think of you when sunlight
glints from the sea;
I think of you when the moon’s glimmer
is reflected in streams.

I see you when, on distant roads,
dust rises;
in the depths of night, when on the narrow bridge
the traveller trembles.

I hear you when, with a dull roar,
the waves surge up.
I often go to listen in the tranquil grove
when all is silent.

I am with you, however far away you are.
You are close to me!
The sun sets, soon the stars will shine for me.
Would that you were here!

Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

Nähe des Geliebten (1795)
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Nearness of the Beloved
English source: Richard Wigmore

Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer
I think of you when sunlight
Vom Meere strahlt;
glints from the sea;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
I think of you when the moon’s glimmer
In Quellen mahlt.
is reflected in streams.

Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
I see you when, on distant roads,
Der Staub sich hebt;
dust rises;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
in the depths of night, when on the narrow bridge
Der Wandrer bebt.
the traveller trembles.

Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
I hear you when, with a dull roar,
Die Welle steigt.
the waves surge up.
Im stillen Haine geh' ich oft zu lauschen,
I often go to listen in the tranquil grove
Wenn alles schweigt.
when all is silent.

Ich bin bei dir, du seyst auch noch so ferne,
I am with you, however far away you are.
Du bist mir nah!
You are close to me!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
The sun sets, soon the stars will shine for me.
O wärst du da!
Would that you were here!

Composer

Amy Beach

The composer and pianist Amy Beach (1867-1944) is recognised as a leading figure in American music, the first woman to gain success with large-scale musical forms. She came from a prosperous family in New Hampshire. Her mother Clara Cheney was a…

Poet

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…

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