by Maximilian Bern (1849 - 1923)
Translation Singable translation by Gwendolen Gore
Was mich zu dir so heftig zog
Language: German (Deutsch)
Was mich zu dir so [heftig]1 zog War nicht der Augen Allgewalt, Der Schimmer nicht des goldnen Haar's Und nicht die schlanke Huldgestalt. Was mich zu dir so mächtig zog, War deiner Stimme trüber Klang, Der mir wie Nachtigallensang Ins Herz, ins lebensmüde, drang. Die Blässe deiner Wangen war's Und [deine]2 Träne, die verriet, Dass deine Seele tiefgeheim Ein namenloses Weh durchzieht.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Blumenthal, Meyer-Helmund, Riedel, Wolf: "mächtig"; further changes by Meyer-Helmund, Riedel, and Wolf may exist not noted.
2 Blumenthal: "eine"
Authorship:
- by Maximilian Bern (1849 - 1923) [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 Jacques (Jacob) Blumenthal (1829 - 1908), "Was mich zu dir" [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Pauline von Erdmannsdörfer-Fichtner, née Oprawill (1847 - 1916), "Was mich zu dir so mächtig zog" [ voice and piano ], from Vier Lieder, no. 2, Berlin: Ries & Erler [sung text not yet checked]
- by Erik Meyer-Helmund (1861 - 1932), "Was mich zu Dir so mächtig zog", op. 27 (Drei Lieder für Sopran (oder Tenor) mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1886 [ soprano or tenor and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hermann Riedel (1847 - 1913), "Was mich zu dir so mächtig zog", op. 13 (Fünf Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1881 [ voice and piano ], Wien, Gutmann [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max Wolf , "Was mich zu dir so mächtig zog", op. 23 (Zwei Lieder für Mezzo-Sopran (oder Bariton) mit Pianoforte) no. 1, published 1883 [ mezzo-soprano or baritone and piano ], Wien, Lewy [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Swedish (Svenska), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Sven August Körling.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Gwendolen Gore) , "Magnet"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-25
Line count: 12
Word count: 62
Magnet
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
The magic charm that drew me on, Was not thine eyes' resistless spell, And not thy gleaming golden hair Nor that sweet form I know so well. The magic power that drew me on Was just thy voice's tender tone, The nightingale had taught thee, sweet That soothed my weary heart alone. 'Twas but thy pale and gentle face, And just one tear that fell again, Betraying that thy inmost soul Was filled with a nameless pain, [sore pain]1.
View original text (without footnotes)
From the Blumenthal score.
1 the extra syllables here come about because Blumenthal repeats the last word in the German (durchzieht).
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
From the Blumenthal score.
1 the extra syllables here come about because Blumenthal repeats the last word in the German (durchzieht).
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Gwendolen Gore , "Magnet" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Maximilian Bern (1849 - 1923)
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2009-12-14
Line count: 12
Word count: 79