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Im Schatten des Waldes, im Buchengezweig, Da [regt sich's und raschelt's]1 und flüstert zugleich. Es flackern die Flammen, es gaukelt der Schein Um bunte Gestalten, um Laub und Gestein. Das ist der Zigeuner bewegliche Schaar, Mit blitzendem [Aug' und mit]2 wallendem Haar, Gesäugt an des Niles geheiligter Flut, Gebräunt von Hispaniens südlicher Glut. Um's lodernde Feuer in schwellendem Grün, Da lagern die Männer verwildert und kühn, Da kauern die Weiber und rüsten das Mahl, Und füllen geschäftig den alten Pokal. Und Sagen und Lieder ertönen im Rund, Wie Spaniens Gärten so blühend und bunt, Und magische Sprüche für Not und Gefahr Verkündet die Alte der horchenden Schaar. Schwarzäugige Mädchen beginnen den Tanz. Da sprühen die Fackeln im rötlichen Glanz. [Heiß]3 lockt die Guitarre, die Zimbel [erklingt]4. Wie [wilder]5 und wilder der Reigen sich schlingt. Dann ruhn sie ermüdet von nächtlichen Reihn. Es rauschen die [Wipfel]6 in Schlummer sie ein. Und die aus der [sonnigen]7 Heimat verbannt, sie schauen im [Traum das gesegnete]8 Land. Doch wie nun im Osten der Morgen erwacht, Verlöschen die schönen Gebilde der Nacht, [Laut]9 scharret das Maultier bei Tagesbeginn, Fort ziehn die Gestalten. -- Wer sagt dir, wohin?
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Note for stanza 5, line 3, word 6: "Zimbel" is sometimes spelled "Cymbel"
1 Randhartinger: "regt sich's und raschelt"; Schumann: "regt's sich und raschelt"
2 Randhartinger: "Auge, mit"
3 Randhartinger, Schumann: "Es"
4 Schumann: "klingt"
5 Schumann: "wild"
6 Randhartinger, Schumann: "Buchen"
7 Randhartinger, Schumann: "glücklichen"
8 Randhartinger, Schumann: "Traume das glückliche"
9 Randhartinger, Schumann: "Es"
Authorship:
- by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Zigeunerleben", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lübeck und Bonn [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charlotte von Bülow (1817 - 1908), "Zigeunerleben", op. 4 (Vier Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Klaviers) no. 4, published 1870 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Trautwein [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johanna Kinkel, née Mockel (1810 - 1858), "Die Zigeuner", op. 7 (Sechs Lieder) no. 6 (1838), published [1838] [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benedikt Randhartinger (1802 - 1893), "Zigeunerleben" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Zigeunerleben", op. 29 no. 3 (1840), published 1841 [ satb chorus, piano, and percussion ], from Drei Gedichte nach Emanuel Geibel für mehrstimmigen Chor und Klavier, no. 3, Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Dutch (Nederlands), a translation by Guido (Pieter Theodoor Jozef) Gezelle (1830 - 1899) , "De Gypten", written 1877 ; composed by Nicolaas Hendrik Andriessen, P. J. Vranken.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lidy van Noordenburg) , "In het duistere woud", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Zigeunerleven", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Martin Stock) , "In the shady forest, between the beech-trees", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La vie des tsiganes", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- PER Persian (Farsi) (Marjan Rezaie) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- POR Portuguese (Português) (Margarida Moreno) , "Vida de cigano", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Virginia Knight , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 191
In the shady forest, between the beech-trees, there's a hustling and bustling, and whispers are heard. The flickering light of the fire dances around colorful figures, leaves and rocks. This is where the restless gypsies gather, with flashing eyes and flowing hair, suckled at the Nile's holy waters, tanned by the blazing southern Hispanic sun. Around the fire, amidst the lush green, the men lie, wild and brave. The women squat, preparing the meal, busily filling the old goblet. Folklore and tales are shared by the group, songs as fantastic and colorful as the gardens of Spain. Magic words for times of distress are told by the old woman. Black-eyed maidens begin the dance. Red-glowing torches are sparkling. To the enticing sounds of guitars and cymbals the dancers are twirling in a wild dance. Then, exhausted by the night's dancing, they lie down and rest. The beech-trees are murmuring a lullaby. Those once expelled from a homeland where they were happy see the beloved land in their dreams. When the morning awakes in the east the beautiful images of the night fade away. At dawn the mule paws at the ground. The gypsies depart - who knows where they are going?
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2002 by Martin Stock, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Emanuel von Geibel (1815 - 1884), "Zigeunerleben", appears in Jugendgedichte, in 1. Erstes Buch, in Lübeck und Bonn
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 201