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Singet nicht in Trauertönen Von der Einsamkeit der Nacht. Nein, sie ist, o holde Schönen, Zur Geselligkeit gemacht. Wie das Weib dem Mann gegeben Als die schönste Hälfte war, Ist die Nacht das halbe Leben Und die schönste Hälfte zwar. Könnt ihr euch des Tages freuen, Der nur Freuden unterbricht? Er ist gut, sich zu zerstreuen; Zu was anderm taugt er nicht. Aber wenn in nächt'ger Stunde Süsser Lampe Dämmrung fließt, Und vom Mund zum nahen Munde Scherz und Liebe sich ergießt; Wenn der rasche, lose Knabe, Der sonst wild und feurig eilt, Oft bei einer kleinen Gabe Unter leichten Spielen weilt; Wenn die Nachtigall Verliebten Liebevoll ein Liedchen singt, Das Gefangnen und Betrübten Nur wie Ach und Wehe klingt; Mit wie leichtem Herzensregen Horchet ihr der Glocke nicht, Die mit zwölf bedächtgen Schlägen Ruh und Sicherheit verspricht. Darum an dem langen Tage, Merke dir es, liebe Brust; Jeder Tag hat seine Plage, Und die Nacht hat ihre Lust.
R. Schumann sets stanzas 1, 3-8
V. Tomášek sets stanzas 1-4, 7-8
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), appears in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre [author's text not yet checked 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 Victor Emanuel Bendix (1851 - 1926), "Philinens Lied aus Wilhelm Meister", op. 4, published 1874 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], Kopenhagen, Lose [sung text not yet checked]
- by Zdenko Antonín Václav Fibich (1850 - 1900), "Philinens Lied", H. 134 no. 5 (1871), published 1893, first performed 1914, from Aus Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahren, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Cornelius Wilhelm de Groot (1914 - 1993), "Philine (aus Wilhelm Meister)", published 194-?, from 7 Goethe Lieder, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joseph Klein (1802 - 1862), "Philine", published 1836 [ voice and piano ], from Sechs Gedichte aus Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahren, von Goethe, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Leopold Lenz (1803 - 1862), "Singet nicht in Trauertönen", op. 12 no. 8, published 1832 [ low soprano or baritone and piano ], from Mignon der Harfner und Philine ein Cyclus von acht Gesaengen aus "Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre", no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Georg Nägeli (1773 - 1836), "Die Nacht", 1800-10 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wenzeslaus Rafael Gottfried, Graf von Purgstall (1798 - 1817), "Singet nicht in Trauertönen ", published 1821, Wien: A. Strauß ; appeared in Denkmal auf das Grab des beyden letzten Grafen von Purgstall. Gesetzt von ihrem Freunde Joseph von Hammer [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Friedrich Reichardt (1752 - 1814), "Die Nacht", published 1795-6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein (1829 - 1894), "Philine", op. 91 no. 8, from Die Gedichte und das Requiem fur Mignon aus Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister's Lehrjahre", no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Singet nicht in Trauertönen", op. 98a no. 7 (1849), published 1851, stanzas 1,3-8 [ soprano and piano ], from Lieder und Gesänge aus dem "Wilhelm Meister" von Goethe, no. 7, Leipzig, Breitkopf und Härtel [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek (1774 - 1850), "Die Nacht", op. 55 (Gedichte von Goethe: III) no. 5 (1815?), stanzas 1-4,7-8 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Alexander Winterberger (1834 - 1914), "Philine", op. 26 (Zwei Lieder für 1 Sopran- oder Tenorstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 2, published 1875 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Leipzig, Kahnt [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903), "Philine", published 1891 [ voice and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 8, Mainz, Schott [sung text checked 1 time]
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) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Zing nu niet in droeve tonen", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Do not sing in mournful tones", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Ne chantez pas dans des tons désolés", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) [singable] (Christakis Poumbouris) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Non cantate in triste melodia", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ted Perry
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 159
Do not sing in mournful tones of the loneliness of Night. No; it was, o tender, fair ones, made for companionship. As woman was given to man to be his better half, so is Night half of life, and certainly the better half. Can you delight in the day, which only interrupts joy? It is good for distraction, but of use for nothing else. But when, in that nocturnal hour, the sweet lamps' twilight flows, and from mouth to neighboring mouth pour jests and love; when that quick, scampish boy who hurries, wild and fiery, often toying with a small gift in light play to pass the time; when the nightingale sings to sweethearts a little song full of love, which to the imprisoned and troubled sounds only like sighs and moans; with such a lightly stirring heart do you not listen to the bell, that, with twelve measured strokes promises repose and safety? Thus, in the long day, mark it well, dear heart: every day has its troubles, and the night has its pleasure.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), appears in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 32
Word count: 175