Gitanjali - Sangesopfer

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by John Alden Carpenter (1876 - 1951)

View original-language texts alone: Gitanjali (Song Offerings)

1. When I bring to you colour’d toys
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
When I bring you coloured toys, my child,
I understand why there is such a play of colours 
On clouds, on water, and why flow'rs are painted in tints:
When I give colour'd toys to you, my child.

When I sing to make you dance,
I truly know why there is music in leaves,
And why waves send their chorus of voices
To the heart of the listening earth:
When I sing to make you dance.

When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands,
I know why there is honey in the cup of the flower
And why fruits are secretly filled with sweet juice:
When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands.

When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling, 
I surely understand what pleasure streams 
from the sky in morning light, and what delight 
that is that is which the summer breeze 
brings to my body - when I kiss you to make you smile.

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Note: in Gitanjali, the poem has no title; but in The Crescent Moon, its title is "When and why"

Note: in Trotta's setting, in the last repeat of the first stanza, line 5 (stanza 2 of the original text), the added text "We are free" becomes "We are one." (see footnote 3)

by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
1.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn Buntes ich zum Spiel dir bring, mein Kind,
verstehe ich, warum am Himmel, auf dem Wasser derlei Farben spielen, 
und auch der Blumen Farbenpracht erschließt sich mir,  -
wenn Buntes ich zum Spiel dir bring’, mein Kind.

Und wenn ich sing’, auf dass du tanzt,
dann weiß ich wirklich, warum Blätter singen,
und warum Wellen ihrer Stimmen Chor
in Herz und Ohr der Erde strahlen -
wenn ich sing’, auf dass du tanzt.

Und bring ich Süßes dir, mein liebes Kind,
dann weiß ich, warum Honig sich im Kelch der Blüte findet,
und warum in aller Stille Früchte sich mit Süße füllen -
wenn Süßes  ich dir bring’, mein liebes Kind.

Und wenn ich dein Gesicht liebkose und du lächelst mir,
begreif’ ich wohl, welch Freud’ im Morgenlicht 
vom Himmel strömt, und welche Wonne mir 
ein Sommerlüftchen bringt -
wenn dein Gesicht ich küsse und du lächelst mir.

Text 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

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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-02
Line count: 18
Word count: 145

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. On the day when death will knock at thy door
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
On the day when death will knock at thy door,
what wilt thou offer to him?

Oh, I will set before my guest the full vessel of my life;
I will never let him go with empty hands.

All the sweet vintage of all my autumn days and summer nights,
all the earnings and gleanings of my busy life,
will I place before him at the close of my days
when death will knock at my door.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
2.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Tage, da der Tod an deine Pforte klopft,
was wirst du ihm denn bieten?

Ach, meines Lebens voll’ Gefäß werd’ meinem Gast ich reichen;
nie werd’ ich ihn mit leeren Händen gehen lassen.

Die ganze süße Lese meiner Herbstestag’ und Sommernächte,
all dies, was ich in meinem Leben hab’ erworben und geerntet,
stelle ich ihm bereit am Ende meiner Tage,
an dem der Tod an meine Pforte klopft.

Text 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

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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 69

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
The sleep that flits on baby's eyes - 
does anybody know from where it comes? 
Yes, there is a rumour that it has its dwelling 
where, in the fairy village among shadows of the forest 
dimly lit with glow-worms, 
there hang two timid buds of enchantment. 
From there it comes to kiss baby's eyes.

 ...

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schlaf, der sacht auf Kinderaugen huscht -
weiß man, woher er kommt?
Man sagt, er wohne,
wo im Dorf der Feen im Waldesschatten, 
schwach von Glühwürmchen erhellt,
zwei zarte Zauberknospen sprießen.
Dort kommt er her, des Kindes Aug zu küssen.

[ ... ]

Text 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

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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 134

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
I am like a remnant of a cloud of autumn
uselessly roaming in the sky,
O my sun ever-glorious!
Thy touch has not yet melted my vapour,
making me one with thy light,
and thus I count months and years separated from thee.

If this be thy wish and if this be thy play,
then take this fleeting emptiness of mine,
paint it with colours, gild it with gold,
float it on the wanton wind 
and spread it in varied wonders.

And again, when it shall be thy wish to end this play at night,
I shall melt and vanish away in the dark,
or it may be in a smile of the white morning, 
in a coolness of purity transparent.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
4.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich bin, was übrig blieb von einer Wolk’,
die ohne Sinn am Herbsteshimmel zieht,
du meine Sonn’, die ewig strahlt!
Ich bin von dir noch nicht ganz aufgelöst,
zu einen mich mit deinem Licht,
so zähl’ die Monde ich und Jahr’, die ich getrennt von dir.

Wenn dies dein Wunsch, wenn dies dein Spiel,
dann nimm die flücht’ge Leere mir,
gib Farbe ihr, mal sie in Gold,
lass tollen sie im Wind 
und immer wieder neu und wundersam erscheinen.

Und wird’s dein Wunsch sein, dieses Spiel des Nachts zu enden,
werd’ ich zerrinnen und ins Dunkel gehn,
oder vielleicht im Lächeln sein des weißen Morgens,
in einer Kühle, gläsern, rein.

Text 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

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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-11
Line count: 15
Word count: 110

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5.
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.
The infinite sky is motionless overhead
and the restless water is boisterous.
On the seashore of endless worlds 
the children meet with shouts and dances.

They build their houses with sand 
and they play with empty shells.
With withered leaves they weave their boats
and smilingly float them on the vast deep.
Children have their play on the seashore of worlds.

They know not how to swim, 
they know not how to cast nets.
Pearl fishers dive for pearls, 
merchants sail in their ships,
while children gather pebbles and scatter them again. 
They seek not for hidden treasures, 
they know not how to cast nets.

The sea surges up with laughter, 
and pale gleams the smile of the sea-beach.
Death-dealing waves sing 
meaningless ballads to the children,
even like a mother while rocking her baby's cradle.
The sea plays with children, 
and pale gleams the smile of the sea-beach.

On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.
Tempest roams in the pathless sky, 
ships get wrecked in the trackless water,
death is abroad and children play.
On the seashore of endless worlds 
is the great meeting of children.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
5.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Zum Strande endloser Wasser kommen die Kinder.
Der endlose Himmel hoch droben steht still,
und das lärmende Meer, es kommt nicht zur Ruh.
Am Strande endloser Wasser 
lärmen die Kinder und tanzen.

Sie baun ihre Häuser aus Sand 
und spielen mit Muscheln.
Aus welken Blättern fügen sie Boote
und lassen sie lächelnd treiben auf abgründ’ger Tiefe.
Am Strande endloser Wasser spielen die Kinder.

Sie können nicht schwimmen, 
noch werfen sie Netze.
Fischer tauchen nach Perlen, 
Händler befahren das Meer,
derweil Kinder Steine aufsammeln und wieder zerstreun.
Sie suchen keine verborgenen Schätze, 
noch werfen sie Netze.

Hoch schlagen die Wellen mit Lachen, 
der Strand schimmert matt und lächelt.
Die Wogen drohen mit Tod 
und singen den Kindern ihren sinnlosen Sang,
gleich einer Mutter Lied an der Wiege.
Das Meer spielt mit den Kindern, 
der Strand schimmert matt und lächelt.

Zum Strande endloser Wasser kommen die Kinder.
Der Sturmwind jagt durch weglose Himmel, 
Schiffe versinken in weglosen Wassern,
weit umher lauert der Tod, und Kinder spielen.
Zum Strande endloser Wasser 
kommen die Kinder zuhauf.

Text 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

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This text was added to the website: 2014-07-02
Line count: 30
Word count: 172

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Light, my light
 (Sung text)
Language: English 
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.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
6.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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.

Text 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

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This text was added to the website: 2014-06-23
Line count: 14
Word count: 104

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann