Tonerna – Visions
The Songs – Music

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTS BY DR. ALF LUNDER KNUDSEN

The collaboration of Swedish historian Erik Gustaf Geijer (1783-1847), who wrote the lyrics, and Carl Sjöberg (1861 – 1900), Swedish medical doctor and a self-taught composer, is best known for the song Tonerna (1894) made famous by Swedish tenor Jussie Björling. This arrangement for male chorus by Alberto Bimboni includes an English text by Helen Kaminski.

Tonerna
Tanke, hvars strider blott natten ser,
Toner, hos eder om hvila den ber.
Hjärta, som lider, som lider af dagens gny,
Toner till eder, till er vill det fly.

Literal Translation:
Melodies
Trouble of the mind only comes at night,
melodies that ask you for respite.
The ailing heart, ailing from the day’s furor,
Music to you, to you it will rush.

Phonics:
Tàhn-kèh, vàh-rsstreedèr blot nàht-tènsèhr,
tôh-nèr hôhs èhdèhr ôhmvee-làh den bear,
Yèr-tàh, somelee-dèhr, somelee-dèhr àhf dàh-gèhns g-nüh,
tôh-nèr till èh-dèhr, till èhr vill dèhflüh.