Adelaide (Ludwig van Beethoven)

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Music files

• CPDL #17478:  

Editor: David Newman (added 2008-07-09).   Score information: Letter, 11 pages, 96 kbytes       Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Cross posting by Art Song Central - File Sizes: PDF: 96 KB.

General Information

Title: Adelaide
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Solo Soprano
Genre: Secular, Aria

Language: German
Instruments: Piano
Published: "Adelaide", op. 46 (1795/96).

Description:

External websites:

• Jussi Bjorling preforming Adelaide on UTube.

Original text and translations

German text

Einsam wandelt dein Freund im Frühlingsgarten,

Mild vom lieblichen Zauberlicht um flossen,

Das durch wankende Blüthenzweige zittert,

Adelaide!

In der spiegelnden Fluth, im Schnee der Alpen,

In des sinkenden Tages Goldgewölken,

In Gefilde der Sterne strahlt dein Bildniss,

Adelaide!

Abendlüftchen im zarten Laube flüstern,

Silberglöckchen des Mais im Grase säuseln,

Wellen rauschen und Nachtigallen flöten,

Adelaide!

Einst, o Wunder! entblüht auf meinem Grabe,

Eine Blume der Asche meines Herzens

Deutlich schimmert auf jedem Purpurblättchen:

Adelaide!

Lyrics: Friedrich von Matthisson (1761-1831).

English translation

Alone does your friend wander in the Spring garden,

mildly encircled by magic light

that quivers through swaying, blossoming boughs,

Adelaide!

In the mirroring stream, in the snow of the Alps,

in the dying day's golden clouds,

in the fields of stars, your image shines,

Adelaide!

Evening breezes whisper in the tender leaves,

silver bells of May chime in the grass,

waves murmur and nightingales pipe:

Adelaide!

One day, o wonder! from my grave will sprout

a flower from the ashes of my heart;

and clearly on every purple leaf will gleam:

Adelaide!

Translation from German to English copyright © by Emily Ezust (emily (AT) lieder (DOT) net) - used by permission.