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Herr Bacchus ist ein braver Mann, Das kann ich euch versichern; Mehr, als Apoll, der Leyermann, Mit seinen Notenbüchern. Des Armen ganzer Reichthum ist [Der Klingklang seiner]1 Leyer, Von der er prahlet, wie ihr wißt, Sie sey entsetzlich theuer. Doch borgt ihm auf sein Instrument Kein Kluger einen Heller. Denn [frohere]2 Musik ertönt [Aus]3 Vater Evans Keller. [Obgleich Apollo sich voran]4 Mit seiner Dichtkunst blähet: So ist doch Bacchus auch ein Mann, Der seinen Vers verstehet. Wie mag am waldigen Parnaß Wohl sein Diskant gefallen? Hier sollte [Bacchus]5 Kantorbaß [Fürwahr weit]6 besser schallen. Auf, laßt uns ihn für den Apoll Zum Dichtergott erbitten! Denn er ist gar vortreflich wohl Bey großen Herrn gelitten. [Apoll muß tief]7 gebückt und krumm In Fürstensäle schleichen; Allein mit Bacchus gehn sie um, Als wie mit ihres Gleichen. Dann wollen wir auf den Parnaß, Vor allen andern Dingen, Das große Heidelberger Faß Voll Nierensteiner bringen. Statt [Lorbeerbäume]8 wollen wir Dort [Rebenstöcke]9 pflanzen, Und [rings um volle]10 Tonnen, schier Wie die Bacchanten tanzen. Man lebte so nach altem Brauch Bisher dort allzunüchtern. D'rum blieben die neun Jungfern auch Von je und je so schüchtern. Ha! zapften sie sich ihren Trank Aus Bacchus Nektartonnen, Sie jagten Blödigkeit und Zwang [Ins Kloster]11 zu den Nonnen. Fürwahr! sie ließen nicht mit Müh' Zur kleinsten Gunst sich zwingen, Und ungerufen würden sie Uns in die Arme springen.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Gedichte von Gottfried August Bürger. Erster Theil. Mit Churf. Sächsisch gnädigst. Privilegium. Göttingen, bey Johann Christian Dieterich, 1789, pages 52-55; with Gedichte von Gottfried August Bürger. Mit Churfürstl. Sächs. gnädigstem Privilegio. Göttingen gedruckt und in Kommission bei Johann Christian Dieterich 1778, pages 51-54; and with Poetische Blumenlese auf das Jahr 1771. Göttingen und Gotha, bey Johann Christian Dieterich, pages 101-103.
First anonymously published in Göttinger Musen-Almanach with the title Trinklied and "U." as the author's name, and with a setting by Kellner.
1 Bürger (1771 and 1778 editions): "Die goldbemalte"2 Bürger (1771 edition): "schönere"
3 Bürger (1771 edition): "In"
4 Bürger (1771 edition): "Und ob sich Phöbus gleich vornan"; Bürger (1778 edition): "Und ob Apoll sich gleich voran"
5 Bürger (1771 edition): "Libers"
6 Bürger (1771 edition): "Gewißlich"
7 Bürger (1771 edition): "Apollo muß"
8 Bürger (1771 edition): "Lorbeerhaynen"
9 Bürger (1771 edition): "Rebenberge"
10 Bürger (1771 edition): "um gefüllte"
11 Bürger (1771 and 1778 editions): "In Klöster"
Authorship:
- by Gottfried August Bürger (1747 - 1794), "Herr Bacchus", written 1770, first published 1771 [author's text checked 2 times 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 J. J. Grünwald (flourished 1780), "Herr Bachus", published 1785 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Friedrich Wilhelm Rust (1739 - 1796), "Herr Bachus", published 1784 [ voice and piano ], from Oden und Lieder aus den besten deutschen Dichtern, Erste Sammlung, no. 11 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Trinklied", D 426 (1816) [ ttb trio ], note: Schubert's setting is lost [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz (1747 - 1800), "Herr Bachus", published 1782 [ voice and piano ], Berlin: Bey George Jakob Decker, Königl. Hofbuchdrucker [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-04
Line count: 48
Word count: 227
Lord Bacchus is a good man, Of that I can assure you; Better than Apollo, the man of the lyre, With his music books. The whole estate of a poor man is [The jangling of his lyre]1, Of which he brags, as you know, That it is horrendously expensive. But no wise person would lend him a penny With his instrument as collateral. For [more joyful]2 music sounds [From out of]3 Bacchus’ cellar. [Although Apollo]4 comes forward first To puff himself up over his poetic artistry: Bacchus, too, is a certainly a man Who understands how to make verses. By the forested Parnassus, how can [Apollo’s] descant be pleasing? Here the cantor-like bass of [Bacchus]5 Should [truly resound far]6 better. Arise, let us ask for him as the god of poetry In Apollo’s stead! For he is very well tolerated By great lords. [Deeply bowed]7 down and stooped, Apollo must Creep into the halls of princes; With Bacchus, however, they consort As they do with their equals. Then up to Mount Parnassus Let us, before all else, bring The great Heidelberg tun Full of Nierenstein wine. Instead of laurel [trees]8 let us Plant [grapevines]9 there, And [round about full]10 vats, [Let us] dance just like bacchants. After the old customs one had lived There far too soberly until now. Hence the nine virgins also Forever remained so shy. Ha! would they draw their libations From the nectar vats of Bacchus, They would chase weakness and duress [Into the cloister]11 where the nuns are. Truly! it would not require great pains To move them to dispense the smallest of favours, And unasked they would Leap into our arms.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translations of title(s):
"Herr Bacchus" = "Lord Bacchus"
"Trinklied" = "Drinking song"
"Herr Bachus" = "Lord Bacchus"
2 Bürger (1771 edition): "more beautiful"
3 Bürger (1771 edition): "In"
4 Bürger (1771 edition): "And although Phoebus immediately"; Bürger (1778 edition): "And although Apollo immediately"
5 Bürger (1771 edition): "Liber Pater's"
6 Bürger (1771 edition): "Certainly resound"
7 Bürger (1771 edition): "Bowed"
8 Bürger (1771 edition): "groves"
9 Bürger (1771 edition): "vineyards"
10 Bürger (1771 edition): "around filled"
11 Bürger (1771 and 1778 editions): "Into cloisters"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (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 Gottfried August Bürger (1747 - 1794), "Herr Bacchus", written 1770, first published 1771
This text was added to the website: 2018-03-03
Line count: 48
Word count: 277