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Vier Lieder auf Tagore-Texte
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by Raymond Murray Schafer (b. 1933)
View original-language texts alone: Four Songs on Texts by Tagore
Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life. This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new. At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable. Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 1, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 1 [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Frederik van Eeden)
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Tu m'as fait sans fin, tel est ton plaisir", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (André Gide) , no title, appears in Gitanjali (L'Offrande lyrique), no. 1, first published 1917
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Dass du ohn’ Ende mich gestaltest, ist dir zur Freud’. Dies, mein zerbrechliches Gefäß, gießt du aufs Neue immer wieder aus und füllst es stets mit neuem Leben. Und diese kleine Flöte, geschnitten aus dem Rohr, nimmst du mit über Berg und Tal. Dein Atemstrom entlockt ihr ewig neue Melodien. Und rühren deine ew’gen Hände an mein Herz, wird seine Freude grenzenlos, und es gebiert Unsägliches. Und Unermessliches schenkst du mir in meine unbedeutenden Hände. Die Zeiten gehn, du schenkst und schenkst, und doch ist noch nicht aller Raum erfüllt.
Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 1, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 1 [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2014-03-31
Line count: 14
Word count: 90
He whom I enclose with my name is weeping in this dungeon. I am ever busy building this wall all around; and as this wall goes up into the sky day by day I lose sight of my true being in its dark shadow. I take pride in this great wall, and I plaster it with dust and sand lest a least hole should be left in this name; and for all the care I take I lose sight of my true being.
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 29, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 29 [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Der, den mit meinem Namen ich einschließe, er weint in diesem Kerker. Rastlos ziehe ich Tag für Tag die Mauer hoch; und wie sie hoch und höher wächst zum Himmel, verlier ich immer mehr den Blick in ihrem düstern Schatten für mein wahres Ich. Stolz bin ich auf die mächt’ge Mauer, verschließe sie mit Gips und Sand, dass nicht die kleinste Öffnung sei in diesem Namen; bei aller Sorgfalt, aller Müh verlier mein wahres Sein ich aus dem Blick.
Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 29, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 29 [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2014-04-30
Line count: 9
Word count: 79
When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my eyes. All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony - and my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea. I know thou takest pleasure in my singing. I know that only as a singer I come before thy presence. I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspire to reach. Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord.
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 2, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 2 [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist)
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Quand tu m'ordonnes de chanter", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Gebietest du zu singen mir, scheint mir das Herz vor Stolz zu bersten; ich schaue dich und Tränen steigen in die Augen mir. Und jede Rauheit, jeder Missklang meines Seins löst auf sich in vollkommner Harmonie - und meine grenzenlose Liebe breitet ihre Schwingen wie ein Vogel, der glücklich, unbeschwert fliegt übers Meer. Ich weiß, dass du dich meines Sangs erfreust. Ich weiß, dass singend nur ich vor dich treten darf. Und mein beflügelt Lied reicht weit, rührt bis an deinen Fuß, den zu erreichen, ich wohl nie erstreben konnte. In meinem freudetrunknen Sange nenne ich, ganz selbstvergessen, Freund dich, der du bist mein Herr.
Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 2, first published 1912
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 2 [text unavailable]
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2014-03-31
Line count: 15
Word count: 105
Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light. The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion. Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
Authorship:
- by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 57, first published 1913
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 57
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Licht, mein Licht, das alle Welt erfüllt, das Auge küsst und Süße gießt ins Herz! Das Licht, mein Liebster, tanzt im Herzstück meines Lebens; es bringt hervor den Wohlklang meiner Liebe; der Himmel tut sich auf, der Wind hat freien Lauf, und über Welt und Erde geht ein Lachen. Die Falter hissen ihre Segel auf einem Meer aus Licht. Jasmin und Lilien wogen auf seinem Wellenkamm. Das Licht bricht golden sich an jeder Wolk’ und streut Juwelen aus verschwenderisch. Mein Liebster, Frohsinn springt von Blatt zu Blatt und Freude ohne Maßen. Und überflutet hat der Strom des Himmels seine Ufer, hat ausgesandt die Freudenflut.
Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in English by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in Gitanjali, no. 57, first published 1913
Based on:
- a text in Bangla (Bengali) by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941), no title, appears in গীতাঞ্জলি (Gitanjali), no. 57
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-23
Line count: 14
Word count: 104