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Vom hohen Felsen erglänzt das Schloß, die Zinken erschalln und Drometten, Dort sitzt der mutigen Ritter Troß, die Frauen mit goldenen Ketten. Was will wohl der jubelnde, fröhliche Schall? Was leuchtet und glänzt im Königssaal? O Freude, heiah! Freude! Und weißt du's nicht, warum die Freud'? Hei! Daß ich dir's sagen kann! Die Königin hält Hochzeit heut' mit dem jungen Rittersmann! Seht hin, die stolze Königin! Heut' bricht er doch, ihr stolzer Sinn! O Freude, heiah! Freude! Was ist der König so stumm und bleich? Hört nicht des Jubels Töne! Sieht nicht die Gäste stolz und reich, sieht nicht der Königin holde Schöne! Was ist der König so bleich und stumm? Was geht ihm wohl im Kopf herum? Ein Spielmann tritt zur Türe herein! Was mag's wohl mit dem Spielmann sein? O Leide, weh! O Leide! "Ach Spielmann, lieber Spielmann mein, das muß ich dir nun klagen: Um ein schönfarbig Blümelein hat mich mein Bruder erschlagen! Im Walde bleicht mein junger Leib, mein Bruder freit ein wonnig Weib!" O Leide, Leide, weh! Auf springt der König von seinem Thron und blickt auf die Hochzeitsrund'. Und er nimmt die Flöte in frevelndem Hohn und setzt sie selbst an den Mund! O Schrecken, was nun da erklang! Hört ihr die Märe, todesbang? "Ach Bruder, lieber Bruder mein, du hast mich ja erschlagen! Nun bläst du auf meinem Totenbein, des muß ich ewig klagen! Was hast du mein junges Leben dem Tode hingegeben?" O Leide, weh! O Leide! Am Boden liegt die Königin, die Pauken verstummen und Zinken. Mit Schrecken die Ritter und Frauen fliehn, die alten Mauern sinken! Die Lichter verloschen im Königssaal! Was ist wohl mit dem Hochzeitsmahl? Ach Leide!
Authorship:
- by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911) [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 Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Hochzeitsstück", from Das klagende Lied, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Escena de casament", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Ahmed E. Ismail) , "Wedding piece", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Pièce pour mariage", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Scena di nozze", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 50
Word count: 279
From the high cliffs a castle gleams, The cornets and trumpets resound, There sat the brave company of knights, And the ladies wearing their golden chains. What is that joyful, cheerful noise? What glows and shines in the King's hall? O joy, hurrah! Joy! And do you not know, whence this joy? Hah! Then I shall tell you. The queen today shall wed The young knight! Behold, the proud queen! Today it shall break, her haughty will! O joy, hurrah! Joy! Why is the king so pale and quiet? Does he not hear the joyful sounds? Does he not see the wealthy and powerful guests, Does he not see the graceful and beautiful queen? Why is the king so pale and quiet? What has gotten into his head? A minstrel stands waiting at the door! What can this minstrel want? O sorrow, sorrow! O woe! "Oh minstrel, my dear minstrel This must I now lament to you: For a beautifully-colored little flower Has my brother struck me dead! In the wood were my young bones bleached, While my brother courted a lovely wife!" O sorrow, sorrow! O woe! Then leapt the king from his throne, And peers at his wedding guests. And seized the flute with an outraged sneer, And set it against his own mouth! O horrific is the sound it makes! Do you hear the tidings with mortal fright? "Oh brother, my dear brother, You have slain me! Now you play on my death-bleached bone, And I must ever lament! Why have you given over My young life to death?" O sorrow, woe! O sorrow! On the ground the queen had collapsed; The drums and trumpets fell silent. With horror the knight and his wife fled, The ancient walls are falling! The lights are extinguished in the King's hall? What has become of their wedding feast? Ah, sorrow!
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Ahmed E. Ismail, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911)
This text was added to the website: 2006-03-30
Line count: 50
Word count: 310