"Ständchen" by Shubert - english translation (and IPA?)

[melancholy]

Okay, so I'm given this German song "Ständchen", by Shubert, and I need to have the exact translation (word for word), and if possible the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) spelling for it. I don't know this forum well at all, but if there are some German speakers who are familiar with German Lieder out there and willing to help, I would love to work with you/hear your ideas. The song lyrics are as follows...

Leise flehen meine Lieder
Durch die Nacht zu dir;
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
Liebchen, komm zu mir!

Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
In des Mondes Licht;
Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen
Fürchte, Holde, nicht.

Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Ach! sie flehen dich,
Mit der Töne süßen Klagen
Flehen sie für mich.

Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen,
Kennen Liebesschmerz,
Rühren mit den Silbertönen
Jedes weiche Herz.

Laß auch dir die Brust bewegen,
Liebchen, höre mich!
Bebend harr' ich dir entgegen!
Komm, beglücke mich!

If your feeling really bored, feel free to spell out how each word says in english... such as the first word "Leise" which is said (I think) "Lie-suh"! I hope someone can help...

[Esbes]

Leise flehen meine Lieder
Slowly are my songs bagging (slowly to bag my songs)
Durch die Nacht zu dir;
through the night to you (through the night to you)
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
in the quiet grove downwards (in the quiet grove downwards)
Liebchen, komm zu mir!
love, come to me! (love come to me, liebchen is diminutive of lieb, so actually it's "little love" but that doesn't sound in english)

Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
tender tops of trees are sparkling whispering (flüsternd = whispering, schlank = tender, wipfel = tops of trees, rauschen = are sparkling)
In des Mondes Licht;
in the light of the moon (des Mondes = of the moon, licht = light, in = in)
Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen
of the hostile listening (when not allowed) of the betrayer (des verräters = of the betrayer, feindlich = hostile, lauschen = listening when not allowed (don't know if there is a real english word for that)
Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
Fears, Holde (sorry this word i don't know!), not.

Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Can you hear the nightingales banging ((you) hear the nightgales to bang)
Ach! sie flehen dich,
oh, they are bagging you (flehen = beggen)
Mit der Töne süßen Klagen
with the tones of sweet complaining (mit der töne = with the tones, of sweet complaining = süssen Klagen. "Of" is included in the case, the genitive).
Flehen sie für mich.
are they beggin for me (flehen = are begging, sie = they, für mich = for me)

Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen,
They understand the longing of the bosom (des busens = of the bosom. sehnen - to long. sie verstehn = they understand)
Kennen Liebesschmerz,
they know love pain (kennen = they know)
Rühren mit den Silbertönen
they move with their silver tones (rühren = to move, mit den = with the)
Jedes weiche Herz.
every feeble Heart

Laß auch dir die Brust bewegen,
let your breast move to (lass = let, auch = too, dir = for you die brust = the breast bewegen = to move)
Liebchen, höre mich!
love, hear me!
Bebend harr' ich dir entgegen!
trembling i'm waiting for you (bebend = trembling harr' waiting ich = i, dir = you entgegen = (in this case) you)
Komm, beglücke mich!
Come, make me happy (beglücke = make happy)

So! That was about it! And sorry but I'm not that bored to write it all down phonetically but maybe someone else is
Hope you like the translation with also the literary meaning of the words behind it!

[Steena]

I've tried something for the IPA writing of this song.. those are the first two lines, can you make anything out of them? Because this takes a lot of time and if it's useless for you, I won't continue - otherwise I might
(as there is no possibility to write with these signs in the forum, I uploaded a cap of it)
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4323/songfvgu1.jpg
Can somebody who actually speaks the language and is familiar with IPA also have a look at it? I am not sure about my "dir" in the second line

[melancholy]

Thank you so much, Esbes! That is a tremendous help to me... +rep. You must speak German quite well!

And Steena, thank you for the IPA! The first line makes sense to me and helps very much, and if you wish to continue I only need the vowels of the German text, since the consonants come pretty easily for some reason. Thank you again! +rep

[Steena]

yes, I will.. if anybody recognizes mistakes or if theres is anything that you don't understand, please post your questions and suggestions

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

[Tahira]

WOW - GREAT !
Steena for president for german linguistic !!!

I have one question: for example naCHt you write with htis IPA: naXt
and for weiCHe or diCH you write C (with the little hook under it) - but the pronounciation is the same. (Sorry, I am not able to write the IPA-letters.)
What´s the difference?

HAve a nice day, Tahira

[Steena]

I understand what you want to say, Tahira

There is a slight difference in the pronounciation of "ch" in words like Ich, dich, mich, Nacht, Acht ... (though I am not sure to which of these two groups "Durch" belongs)

The "C" sound is not used after "a", "o", "u" - the X after those letters..
also see http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_IPA-Zeichen (under X and C)
It has something to do with the position of the tongue while speaking the words

edit.. after speaking the words aloud several times, I am quite sure Durch belongs to the C-group - (Die Zunge ist beim Sprechen von Durch oben am Gaumen, während sie beim Sprechen von Nacht nicht dort ist)

[Tahira]

edit.. after speaking the words aloud several times, I am quite sure Durch belongs to the C-group - (Die Zunge ist beim Sprechen von Durch oben am Gaumen, während sie beim Sprechen von Nacht nicht dort ist)[/quote]


INDEED - You are right: I never recognized untill now!

Amazing..... Many years ago I used to work as a secretary for a professor at the Techn. Universitiy in Munich. We had many students from abroad - and I was very impressed by one studend from brazil - he had studied german at the Goethe Institute in Brazil. He spoke german without mistakes and with only little accent, and I remember when he sometimes explained german grammar and rules with such an easiness.... as a native speaker I have learned new things about german language. LOL

Tahira

[melancholy]

Originally Posted by Steena

yes, I will.. if anybody recognizes mistakes or if theres is anything that you don't understand, please post your questions and suggestions

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Oh yippy! Thank you! This is so amazing!

[Steena]

you're welcome.. if you recognize anything strange (or if you have any further requests for us) just come back

[josil001]

Er zijn te vele fouten in de vertaling om mij terug te houden van corregeren.

Leise flehen meine Lieder Durch die Nacht zu dir;
(My songs gently beg you through the night)
In den stillen Hain hernieder, Liebchen, komm zu mir!
(down the quiet grove, "darling come to me")

Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen In des Mondes Licht;
(Slim treetops rustle whispering in the moonlight)
Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
(Holde [girl name] don't fear the traitor's hostile evesdropping)

Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen? Ach! sie flehen dich,
(Do you hear the nightingales sing? Oh, they beg you)
Mit der Töne süßen Klagen Flehen sie für mich.
(With sounds of sweet lament, they beg for me [for my sake])

Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen, Kennen Liebesschmerz,
(they understand the yearning of the chest, they know love's pain)
Rühren mit den Silbertönen Jedes weiche Herz.
(they move every soft heart with precious sounds [loosely translated])

Laß auch dir die Brust bewegen, Liebchen, höre mich!
(Let you breast move as well, darling hear me)
Bebend harr' ich dir entgegen! Komm, beglücke mich!
(I await you trembling, come, make me happy)

[Steena]

Holde - just to clarify - (as it has not been clear twice by now) is not a name but an expression for a woman who is desired and honorable.. like you can say "Holde Dame" or something like that.. it's a word which is not used anymore today, I've never heard someone speaking of a girl like this

[melancholy]

Originally Posted by Steena

Holde - just to clarify - (as it has not been clear twice by now) is not a name but an expression for a woman who is desired and honorable.. like you can say "Holde Dame" or something like that.. it's a word which is not used anymore today, I've never heard someone speaking of a girl like this

How interesting ^_^. Knowing the translation, via different people's translation and interpretation, will give me a better understanding of the music as I perform it, which is why I deeply appreciate everyone's help in this endeavor. I find this song so alluring and sexy (if I may say so) when the poem and the music are combined.

Here is a video with the Three Tenors (Domingo, Carreras, and Pavarotti) that is quality, although not exibiting the possible acting characteristics I believe could be possible with the song... even though everything about the Three Tenors was about beautifying the voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iHOe4HzJ60

And here's a vid with a young man's voice that's to die for. Doesn't it give you goosebumps? Even though the sound quality isn't perfect, he still, I believe, has tons of potential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_ANL1ti86s