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Vier Dickinsonlieder
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by Lee Hoiby (1926 - 2011)
View original-language texts alone: Four Dickinson Songs
You ask of my companions. Hills, sir, and the sundown, and a dog large as myself, that my father bought me. They are better than beings because they know, but do not tell; and the noise in the pool at noon excels my piano. I have a brother and a sister; my mother does not care for thought, and father, too busy with his briefs to notice what we do. He buys me many books, but begs me not to read them, because he fears they joggle the mind. They are religious, except me, and address an eclipse ev'ry morning, whom they call their "Father." But I fear my story fatigues you. I would like to learn. Could you tell me how to grow, or is it unconveyed, like melody or witchcraft?
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, written 1862
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Note: From a letter from Emily Dickinson to Thomas Wentworth Higgins, dated April 25, 1862. The line-breaks are arbitrary; this is a prose text.
Sie wollen etwas über meine Gefährten wissen. Das Bergland, Sir, der Sonnenuntergang, sowie ein Hund, so groß wie ich, den mir mein Vater kaufte. Sie sind besser als menschliche Wesen, weil sie verstehen, dies aber nicht äußern; der Lärm im Pool zur Mittagszeit übertönt mein Klavier. Ich habe einen Bruder und eine Schwester; meine Mutter macht sich keine Gedanken, und Vater ist zu stark mit seiner Korrespondenz beschäftigt, um zu merken, was wir tun. Er kauft mir viele Bücher, bittet mich jedoch, sie nicht zu lesen, weil er befürchtet, dass sie Geist und Seele erschüttern. Sie sind gläubig, außer mir, und wenden sich allmorgendlich an etwas Verfinstertes, das sie ihren „Vater“ nennen. Ich lerne gern hinzu. Könnten Sie mir beibringen, mich weiterzuentwickeln, oder ist es nicht kommunizierbar, wie Gotteslob oder das Zaubern mit Worten?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2018 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 Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, written 1862
Go to the general single-text view
Auszug aus einem Brief Emily Dickinsons an Thomas Wentworth Higgins, vom 25. April 1862
This text was added to the website: 2018-08-09
Line count: 22
Word count: 134
How the Waters closed above Him We shall never know -- How He stretched His Anguish to us That -- is covered too -- Spreads the Pond Her Base of Lilies Bold above the Boy Whose unclaimed Hat and Jacket Sum the History --
Wie das Wasser ihn verschlungen, wird uns nie zuteil - wie er seine Angst hinausschrie, auch verborgen bleibt - Deckt des Teichs Seerosenteppich kühn den Knaben zu, des’ Jacke, Hut blieb liegen: Schlussstrich des Gescheh’ns -
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2016 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 Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-01
Line count: 8
Word count: 34
Wild nights! -- Wild nights! Were I with thee, Wild nights should be Our luxury! Futile -- the Winds -- To a heart in port, -- Done with the Compass, -- Done with the Chart! Rowing in Eden -- Ah! the Sea! Might I but moor -- Tonight -- In thee!
Text Authorship:
- by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems by Emily Dickinson, first published 1891
See other settings of this text.
Sturm! Nacht auf Nacht! Wär’ ich bei dir, Sturmnacht wär mir Luxus und dir! Nutzlos ein Sturm dem Herzen im Port, - Weg mit dem Kompass, Seekarten fort! Auf See in Eden - Ach! Das Meer! In dir heut Nacht ankern vielmehr!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2016 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 Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title, appears in Poems by Emily Dickinson, first published 1891
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-03-01
Line count: 12
Word count: 40
There came a Wind like a Bugle — It quivered through the Grass And a Green Chill upon the Heat So ominous did pass We barred the Windows and the Doors As from an Emerald Ghost — The Doom's electric Moccasin That very instant passed — On a strange Mob of panting Trees And Fences fled away And Rivers where the Houses ran Those looked that lived — that Day — The Bell within the steeple wild The flying tidings told — How much can come And much can go, And yet abide the World!
Ein Wind kam auf wie Hornsignal, er rüttelte die Flur, durch Hitze zog ein frostig Grün unheilvoll seine Spur. Wir sperrten Tür und Fenster zu als käm’ ein grüner Geist- des Unheils blitzgelad’ner Schuh zog eben jetzt vorbei. Auf Bäume, ächzend und bizarr, auf Zäune, fortgeweht, auf Flüsse, wo einst Häuser war’n konnte, wer lebte, sehn. Die Sturmglocke hat wild gegellt, kündigt von Ort zu Ort - was auch passiert auf dieser Welt, sie dauert dennoch fort!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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 Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886), no title
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-06-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 76