Songs

Wehmut: Die Abendglocke tönet

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

Wehmut: Die Abendglocke tönet
German source: Heinrich Hüttenbrenner

Die Abendglocke tönet,
Vom Himmel sinkt die Ruh;
Das Auge grambetränet
Nur schließet sich nicht zu.

Dass meine Jugend fliehet
Allein und ungeliebt,
Dass jeder Kranz verblühet,
Das ist, was mich betrübt.

Und als ich sie gefunden,
War Herz und Welt nur Lust,
Und seit sie mir entschwunden,
Ist Atmen ein Verlust.

Der Strom, aus Felsen quillend,
Die Berge lieben nicht.
Nur’s arme Herz, das fühlend,
So leicht von Kummer bricht.

O töne, sanft Geläute,
Ins stille Tal hinab,
Der Morgen deckt das Heute,
Den Gram das Grabeshaus.

Melancholy: The evening bell is chiming
English translation © Richard Wigmore

The evening bell is chiming,
Peace descends from heaven
Only my eyes, tearful with grief,
Do not close.

My youth flies by,
Alone and unloved,
Every garland withers -
That is what troubles me.

When I found her
My heart, my whole world, were pure joy,
And since she vanished
It is futile even to draw breath.

The torrent surging from the rocks,
And the mountains - they do not love;
Only the poor, sensitive heart
Is so easily broken by sorrow.

Chime, gentle bells,
Down into the silent valley;
As tomorrow covers today,
So the grave covers grief.

Wehmut: Die Abendglocke tönet
German source: Heinrich Hüttenbrenner

Melancholy: The evening bell is chiming
English source: Richard Wigmore

Die Abendglocke tönet,
The evening bell is chiming,
Vom Himmel sinkt die Ruh;
Peace descends from heaven
Das Auge grambetränet
Only my eyes, tearful with grief,
Nur schließet sich nicht zu.
Do not close.

Dass meine Jugend fliehet
My youth flies by,
Allein und ungeliebt,
Alone and unloved,
Dass jeder Kranz verblühet,
Every garland withers -
Das ist, was mich betrübt.
That is what troubles me.

Und als ich sie gefunden,
When I found her
War Herz und Welt nur Lust,
My heart, my whole world, were pure joy,
Und seit sie mir entschwunden,
And since she vanished
Ist Atmen ein Verlust.
It is futile even to draw breath.

Der Strom, aus Felsen quillend,
The torrent surging from the rocks,
Die Berge lieben nicht.
And the mountains - they do not love;
Nur’s arme Herz, das fühlend,
Only the poor, sensitive heart
So leicht von Kummer bricht.
Is so easily broken by sorrow.

O töne, sanft Geläute,
Chime, gentle bells,
Ins stille Tal hinab,
Down into the silent valley;
Der Morgen deckt das Heute,
As tomorrow covers today,
Den Gram das Grabeshaus.
So the grave covers grief.

Composer

Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…

Poet

Heinrich Hüttenbrenner

Heinrich Hüttenbrenner was a member of the musical Austrian family, memorable for its connection with Beethoven and Schubert. He studied Law at Graz and  the University of Vienna, eventually securing a position as Professor of Roman and…

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