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Ein weißer Stern singt ein Totenlied In der Julinacht, Wie Sterbegeläut in der Julinacht. Und auf dem Dach die Wolkenhand, Die streifende, feuchte Schattenhand Sucht nach meiner Mutter. Ich fühle mein nacktes Leben, Es stößt sich ab vom Mutterland, So nackt war nie mein Leben, So in die Zeit gegeben, Als ob ich abgeblüht Hinter des Tages [Ende,]1 Zwischen weiten Nächten stände, [Alleine.]2
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Else Lasker-Schüler, Gesammelte Gedichte, Leipzig, Verlag der Weißen Bücher, 1917, page 55.
1 Bachlund adds: "Ende,/ Versunken"2 Bachlund:
Von Einsamskeiten gefangen. Ach Gott! Mein wildes Kindesweh! . . . Meine Mutter is heimgegangen.
Authorship:
- by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945), "Mutter", appears in Styx, Gedichte, first published 1902 [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 Luna Alcalay (1928 - 2012), "Ein weisser Stern singt ein Totenlied", 1978 [ mixed chorus and strings ], from Tre canzone semplice für gemischten Chor und Streichtrio, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Mutter", 2009 [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hugo Daffner (1882 - 1936), "Mutter", op. 97 (Elf Gedichte für eine Singstimme und Klavier) no. 5 (1923-1924) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by George Dreyfus (b. 1928), "Mutter", 2005, first performed 2005 [ female voice, mixed chorus a cappella ], from Else. Für Frauenstimme und gemischten Chor a cappella, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alfred Schnittke (1934 - 1998), "Mutter", 1993, first performed 1994 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Sybil Westendorp (1910 - 1999), "Ein weißer Stern singt ein Totenlied", 1980 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Alfons Karl Zwicker (b. 1952), "Ein weißer Stern singt ein Totenlied", 2008, first performed 2009 [ alto and piano ], from Dem heiligsten Stern über mir (2008). Liederzyklus nach fünf Texten von Else Lasker-Schüler für Alt und Klavier unter Verwendung eines Gebetes in hebräischer Sprache, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "Mother", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Mère", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Karl Bellenberg [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-14
Line count: 14
Word count: 63
Une étoile blanche chante un chant de mort Dans la nuit de juillet, Comme des sons de mourants dans la nuit de juillet. Et sur le toit la main de nuages, La caressante, humide main d'ombre Cherche ma mère. Je sens ma vie nue, Elle s'éloigne du pays de ma mère, Ma vie n'a jamais été aussi nue, Donnée ainsi au temps, Comme si, fanée, je me tenais Après la fin du jour Engloutie Entre des nuits incommensurables, Comme prisonnière de solitude. Ah dieu ! Malheur de ma sauvage enfance ! Ma mère est revenue.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Pierre Mathé, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945), "Mutter", appears in Styx, Gedichte, first published 1902
This text was added to the website: 2010-05-04
Line count: 17
Word count: 95