Vier Sangesopfer - Teil 1

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Landon Ronald, Sir (1873 - 1938)

View original-language texts alone: Four Song Offerings - 1st series

1. Pluck this little flower  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not! 
I fear lest it droop
and drop into the dust.
[I may not find]1 a place in thy garland,
but honour it 
with a touch of pain  from thy hand and pluck it. 
I fear lest the day end 
before I am [aware]2,
and the time of offering go by.
Though its colour be not deep 
and its smell be faint, 
use this flower in thy service 
and pluck it while there is time.

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1 Hinton and some editions of Tagore: "It may not have"
2 Hinton (in early performances of the work): "awake"

by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
1.
[Translation not yet available]
2. That I want thee, only thee  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
That I want thee, only thee -
let my heart repeat without end. 
All desires that distract me, 
day and night, are false and empty to the core.

As the night keeps hidden in its gloom the petition for light, 
even thus in the depth of my unconsciousness 
rings the cry - 'I want thee, only thee'.

As the storm still seeks its end in peace 
when it strikes against peace 
with all its might, even thus my rebellion strikes against thy love 
and still its cry is - 'I want thee, only thee'.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
2.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dass ich dich will, ja, dich nur will -
mein Herz soll’s endlos wiederholen.
Alles Begehren, das mich ablenkt Tag und Nacht,
ist falsch und nichtig durch und durch.

So wie das nächt’ge Dunkel birgt den Drang zum Licht,
so schallt in meines Herzens Tiefe
laut der Ruf - „Ich brauche dich, nur dich.“

So wie der Sturm dennoch im Frieden sich erfüllt,
wenn er mit aller Stärke wütet gegen ihn,
so lehne ich mich gegen deine Liebe auf
und rufe dennoch laut - „Ich brauche dich, nur dich.“

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: 2014-05-18
Line count: 11
Word count: 86

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. He came and sat by my side  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
He came and sat by my side
but I woke not.
What a cursed sleep it was, 
O miserable me!

He came when the night was still; 
he had his harp in his hands,
and my dreams became resonant with its melodies.

Alas, why are my nights all thus lost? 
Ah, why do I ever miss his sight 
whose breath touches my sleep?

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Er trat herein und setzt’ sich an mein Lager,
doch ich erwachte nicht.
Welch Fluch lag denn auf meinem Schlaf, 
ich bin im Elend, voll des Leids!

Er trat herein in stiller Nacht;
in Händen hielt er seine Harfe,
und meine Träume waren ganz erfüllt von ihren Melodien.

Ach, warum gehen meine Nächte so verlorn?
Ach, warum fehlt mir stets sein Angesicht,
sein Hauch, der meinen Schlaf berührt?

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2008 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:

Based on:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2008-07-17
Line count: 10
Word count: 68

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Light my light  [sung text not yet checked]
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)
4.
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

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


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

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann