To listen (fragment)

Berliner record with no number - [published as #104, #140 and #240] - LORELEI - Choral

Lorelei is a song by Friedrich Silcher,
the first sung version of Heinrich Heine`s poem

Die Lorelei

Ich weiß nicht was soll es bedeuten,
Dass ich so traurig bin;
Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.

Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
Im Abendsonnenschein.

Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar;
Ihr goldnes Geschmeide blitzet,
Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.

Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame,
Gewaltige Melodei.

Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh.

Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
Die Lore-Ley getan.

The Loreley (also written as Lorelei) is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 meters above the water line. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat accidents there.

Loreley is also the name of one of the beautiful Rhine Maidens who lured navigators of this river to their dooms with their alluring singing, much as the ancient Greek Sirens did.

The Lorelei by Heinrich Heine,
translated by Clint Andrews

I don't know what it may signify
That I am so sad;
There's a tale from ancient times
That I can't get out of my mind.

The air is cool in the twilight is falling,
And the Rhine is flowing quietly by;
The top of the mountain is glittering
In the evening sun.

The loveliest maiden is sitting,
up there wondrous to tell.
Her golden jewelry sparkles,
as she combs her golden hair.

She combs it with a golden comb
and sings a song as she does;
A song with a peculiar,
powerful melody.

It seizes upon the boatman in his small boat
With unrestrained woe;
He does not look below the rocky shoals;
He only looks up at the heights.

If I'm not mistaken the waters,
Finally swallowed up fisher and boat.
And with her singing
the Lorelei did this.