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Es war in des Maien [mildem]1 Glanz, Da hielten die [Jungfern]2 von Tübingen Tanz. Sie tanzten und tanzten wohl allzumal Um eine Linde im grünen Tal. Ein fremder Jüngling, [in stolzem]3 Kleid, Sich [wandte]4 [bald]5 zu der schönsten Maid; Er [reicht ihr dar die Hände]6 zum Tanz, [Er]7 setzt ihr auf's Haar einen meergrünen Kranz. "O Jüngling! warum ist so kalt dein Arm?" "In Neckars Tiefen da ist's nicht warm." "O Jüngling! warum ist so bleich deine Hand?" "Ins Wasser dringt nicht der Sonne Brand!" Er [tanzt]8 mit ihr von der Linde weit: "Lass', Jüngling! horch, die Mutter [mir]9 schreit!" Er [tanzt]10 mit ihr den Neckar entlang: "Lass', Jüngling! weh! mir wird so bang!" Er fasst sie fest um den schlanken Leib: "Schön' Maid, du bist des Wassermann's Weib!" Er [tanzt]10 mit ihr in die Wellen hinein: "O Vater und du, o Mutter mein!" Er führt sie in [seinen]11 krystallenen Saal: "Ade, ihr Schwestern [allzumal]12!"
1 Ehlert, Nauwerk, Reissmann: "lindem"; Reimann: "wildem"; possibly further changes by Nauwerk not noted
2 Dessauer, Reissmann: "Jungfrau"
3 Becker, Ehlert: "im stolzen"
4 Ehlert: "wendete"
5 omitted by Becker.
6 Ehlert: "reichet die Hände ihr dar"
7 Ehlert: "und"
8 Becker, Dessauer, Reissmann: "tanzte"
9 omitted by Reissmann and Dessauer.
10 Reissmann: "tanzte"
11 Becker: "einen"
12 Becker, Ehlert, Reissmann: "im grünen Tal"
Authorship:
- by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Der Wassermann" [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 August Becker , "Der Wassermann", op. 1 (Drei Lieder) no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Joseph Dessauer (1798 - 1876), "Der Wassermann", published 1838, from Drei Gedichte von Justinus Kerner, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Louis Ehlert (1825 - 1884), "Der Wassermann", op. 2 (Fünf Lieder für eine Singstimme mit Pianoforte) no. 3, published 1847 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Guttentag [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Emil Nauwerk , "Der Wassermann", op. 11 no. 1, published 1880 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Bote & Bock [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Heinrich Reimann (1850 - 1906), "Der Wassermann", op. 16 (Zwei Balladen für Bariton mit Pianofortebleitung) no. 1, published 1889 [ baritone and piano ], Charlottenburg, Michow [sung text not yet checked]
- by August Friedrich Wilhelm Reissmann (1825 - 1903), "Der Wassermann", op. 34 (Drei Balladen) no. 2, published 1875 [ low voice and piano ], Berlin, Paez [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Wassermann", op. 91 (Romanzen für Frauenstimmen (Heft 2)) no. 3 (1849), published 1851 [ SSAA quartet and piano ], Bonn, Simrock [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El tritó", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Corien Sleeswijk) , "De waterman", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De waterman", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The waterman", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'ondin", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2007-02-23
Line count: 22
Word count: 155
Het was in de mei, vol milde glans; Daar hielden de meisjes van Tübingen dans. Zij dansten en dansten daar, veel in tal, Rondom een linde in 't groene dal. Een vreemde jong'ling, heel fier gekleed, Bij 't mooiste kind hij het woord vlug deed; Hij reikt haar daar de handen ten dans, Hij zet haar op 't haar ook een zeegroene krans. "O jongen! Waarom is zo koud je arm?" "In Neckars diepten, daar is 't niet warm." " O jongen! Waarom is zo bleek toch je hand?" " In 't water komt niet de zonnebrand!" Hij danst van de1 linde nu weg met haar: " Stop, jongen! Hoor, mijn moeder roept daar!" Hij danst met haar de Neckar2 langs: "Houd, jongen, op! Ik heb zo'n angst!" Hij pakt haar vast om haar slanke lijf: "Mooi stuk, je bent nu watermans wijf!" Hij danst met haar nu de golvenvloed in: "O vader, kom vlug, o moeder, grijp3 in!" Hij voert haar mee naar zijn kristallen zaal: "Vaarwel, mijn zusters, allemaal!"
1 Van de: te zingen op twee achtsten, deels ten koste van de voorafgaande gepunteerde kwart.
2 Neckar: te zingen op een gepunteerde kwart, gevolgd door een achtste.
3 Moeder, grijp: te zingen op een kwart en twee achtsten, deels ten koste van de voorafgaande gepunteerde kwart.
Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2013 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen.  Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786 - 1862), "Der Wassermann"
This text was added to the website: 2013-06-24
Line count: 22
Word count: 171