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Im Mummelsee, im [dunklen]1 See, Da blüh'n der Lilien viele, Sie wiegen sich, sie biegen sich, Dem losen Wind zum Spiele; Doch wenn die Nacht herniedersinkt, Der volle Mond am Himmel blinkt, Entsteigen sie dem Bade Als Jungfern am Gestade. Es bläst der Wind, es saust das Rohr Die Melodie zum Tanze, Die Lilienmädchen schlingen sich, Als wie zu einem Kranze; Und schweben leis' umher im Kreis, Gesichter weiss, Gewänder weiß Bis ihre bleichen Wangen Mit zarter Röte prangen. Es braust der Sturm, es pfeift das Rohr, Es rauscht im Tannenwalde, Die Wolken zieh'n am Monde hin, Die Schatten auf der Halde; Und auf und ab, durch's nasse Gras Dreht sich der Reigen ohne Mass, Und immer lauter schwellen An's Ufer an die Wellen. Da hebt ein Arm sich aus der Flut, Die Riesenfaust geballet Ein triefend Haupt dann, schilfbekränzt Vom langen Bart umwallet, Und eine Donnerstimme schallt, Daß im Gebirg' as widerhallt: »Zurück in eure Wogen, Ihr Lilien ungezogen!« Da stockt der Tanz, die Mädchen schrein, Und werden immer blässer: »Der Vater ruft, hu, Morgenluft! Zurück in das Gewässer!« Die Nebel steigen aus dem Tal, Es dämmert schon der Morgenstrahl, Und Lilien schwanken wieder Im Wasser auf und nieder.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Brüll: "dunkeln"; further changes may exist not noted above.
Authorship:
- by August Schnezler (1809 - 1853) [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 Ignaz Brüll (1846 - 1907), "Vom Mummelsee", op. 63 (Fünf Lieder für 1 mittlere Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 5, published 1891 [ medium voice or high voice and piano ], Wien, Doblinger [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Der Mummelsee", op. 116 no. 3 (1849?) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Joseph (Gabriel) Rheinberger (1839 - 1901), "Mummelsee", op. 95 (Zwei Gesänge) no. 1, published 1876 [ SATB chorus and piano ], Leipzig, Forberg [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Lawrence Snyder) , "The water-lily lake", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Mummelsee", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Lawrence Snyder
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 200
In Mummelsee, in the dark lake, There bloom many lilies. They rock, they bend and bow, Play for the capricious wind. But when the night descends And the full moon shines in the heavens They climb out of water As maidens on the shore. The wind blows, it pipes on the reed The dance melody, The lilymaidens entwine themselves Into a ring like a wreath And hover lightly around in a circle Faces pale, limbs white, Until their pale cheeks Are decorated with sweet Roses. The storm rages, the reeds pipe The fir trees rustle The moon throws shadows Of the clouds on the hillsides. And to and fro, through the damp grass The Roundelay moves without measure And ever louder swell The waves upon the shore. Then an arm rises out of the flood; A giant clenched fist, Then a dripping head, reed crowned, Surrounded by a long beard, And a loud voice trumpets So that it echoes in the mountains: Back in your flood You ill-mannered lilies." The dance halts, the maidens cry out And become yet paler: Father calls, lo, morning breeze! Back into the waters!" The mist climbs out of the valley, The morning light already dawns, And lilies sway again Back and forth in the water.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Lawrence Snyder, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by August Schnezler (1809 - 1853)
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 40
Word count: 211