The four seasons

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Jan Stuten (1890 - 1948)

View original-language texts alone: Die vier Jahreszeiten

1. Abend in Lans
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wanderschaft durch dämmernden Sommer
An Bündeln vergilbten Korns vorbei. Unter getünchten Bogen,
Wo die Schwalbe aus und ein flog, tranken wir feurigen Wein.

Schön: o Schwermut und purpurnes Lachen.
Abend und die dunklen Düfte des Grüns
Kühlen mit Schauern die glühende Stirne uns.

Silberne Wasser rinnen über die Stufen des Walds,
Die Nacht und sprachlos ein vergessenes Leben.
Freund; die belaubten Stege ins Dorf.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Note: this is the second version of the poem (2. Fassung)

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1. Evening in Lans
Language: English 
Wandering through a gloaming summer
past sheaves of yellowèd corn. Beneath limewashed arches,
where the swallow flew in and out, we drank fiery wine.

Splendid: o sadness and crimson laughter.
Ev’ning and the somber scents of the green
cool down with wafts our foreheads, aglow.

Silvery waters trickle over the steps of the wood,
the night and speechless a life, unremembered.
Friend; the leafy paths to the village.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 9
Word count: 68

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Sommer
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Abend schweigt die Klage
Des Kuckucks im Wald.
Tiefer neigt sich das Korn,
Der rote Mohn.

Schwarzes Gewitter droht
Über dem Hügel.
Das alte Lied der Grille
Erstirbt im Feld.

Nimmer regt sich das Laub
Der Kastanie.
Auf der Wendeltreppe
Rauscht dein Kleid.

Stille leuchtet die Kerze
Im dunklen Zimmer;
Eine silberne Hand
Löschte sie aus;
Windstille, sternlose Nacht.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
2. Summer
Language: English 
At night-fall the cuckoo’s wail
subsides in the woods.
Deeper bends down the corn,
the red poppy.

Black thunderstorm’s threat
o’er the hilltop.
The old song of the cricket
dies in the field.

No longer the chestnut’s
foliage stirs.
On the spiral staircase
your dress rustles.

Calmly the candle gives light
in the dark chamber;
a silvery hand
extinguished it;
windless and starless night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 17
Word count: 64

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Der Gewitterabend
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O die roten Abendstunden!
Flimmernd schwankt am offenen Fenster
Weinlaub wirr ins Blau gewunden,
Drinnen nisten Angstgespenster.

Staub tanzt im Gestank der Gossen.
Klirrend stößt der Wind in Scheiben.
Einen Zug von wilden Rossen
Blitze grelle Wolken treiben,

Laut zerspringt der Weiherspiegel.
Möwen schrein am Fensterrahmen.
Feuerreiter sprengt vom Hügel
Und zerschellt im Tann zu Flammen.

Kranke kreischen im Spitale.
Bläulich schwirrt der Nacht Gefieder.
Glitzernd braust mit einem Male
Regen auf die Dächer nieder.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3. The thunderstorm evening
Language: English 
O these glowing evening hours! 
Vine leaves by the open window 
sway and shimmer, blue entangled.
Indoors ghosts of anguish nestle. 

Dust whirls in the stench of gutters. 
Gusts of wind knock at the windows. 
Like a mob of frenzied horses 
lurid clouds driven by lightnings. 

Loudly the pond’s surface shatters. 
Gulls cry at the casement windows. 
Fire-rider downhill thunders
smashed to flames in yonder forest. 

Shrieks in hospital from patients. 
Bluish the night's feathers whirring. 
All at once a glistening bluster
of the rain upon the housetops.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 89

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Verklärter Herbst
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gewaltig endet so das Jahr
Mit goldnem Wein und Frucht der Gärten.
Rund schweigen Wälder wunderbar
Und sind des Einsamen Gefährten.

Da sagt der Landmann: Es ist gut.
Ihr Abendglocken lang und leise
Gebt noch zum Ende frohen Mut.
Ein Vogelzug grüßt auf der Reise.

Es ist der Liebe milde Zeit.
Im Kahn den blauen Fluß hinunter
Wie schön sich Bild an Bildchen reiht -
Das geht in Ruh und Schweigen unter.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4. Idyllized Autumn
Language: English 
With grandeur, such the year’s course ends
with golden wine and fruit from gardens.
Like magic, woods around keep still
and are the lonesome one’s companions. 

The countryman then says: It’s good. 
You evening bells ring long and quiet 
to give glad courage to the end. 
A flock of birds greets on the journey. 

It is the gentle time of love. 
In boats downstream the bluey river: 
How nicely scene to scene is strung - 
and then is drowned by rest and silence.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 82

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. Im Winter
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Acker leuchtet weiß und kalt.
Der Himmel ist einsam und ungeheuer.
Dohlen kreisen über dem Weiher
Und Jäger steigen nieder vom Wald.

Ein Schweigen in schwarzen Wipfeln wohnt.
Ein Feuerschein huscht aus den Hütten.
Bisweilen schellt sehr fern ein Schlitten
Und langsam steigt der graue Mond.

Ein Wild verblutet sanft am Rain
Und Raben plätschern in blutigen Gossen.
Das Rohr bebt gelb und aufgeschossen.
Frost, Rauch, ein Schritt im leeren Hain.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
5. In Winter
Language: English 
The field in blaze of white and cold. 
The heavens are lonely and so tremendous. 
Jackdaws over the mere are wheeling
and hunters come down from the woods. 

A silence in sable treetops squats. 
A fireglow flashes from lodges. 
At times a sleigh far away jingling
And slow and grey the rising moon. 

A deer bleeds meekly on a slope 
And ravens splashing in blood-sodden gutters. 
The reeds quake pale and shot up high. 
Frost, smoke, a step in the empty grove.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 83

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Ein Winterabend
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn der Schnee ans Fenster fällt,
Lang die Abendglocke läutet,
Vielen ist der Tisch bereitet
Und das Haus ist wohl bestellt.

Mancher auf der Wanderschaft
Kommt ans Tor auf dunklen Pfaden.
Golden blüht der Baum der Gnaden
Aus der Erde kühlem Saft.

Wanderer tritt still herein;
Schmerz versteinerte die Schwelle.
Da erglänzt in reiner Helle
Auf dem Tische Brot und Wein.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
6. A winter evening
Language: English 
When the snow falls ’gainst the panes, 
long the evening bell is ringing, 
many find a well-laid table 
and their matters well arranged. 

Many a man who roams about
finds the gate on murky pathways. 
Golden blooms the tree of mercy
from the cool sap of the earth. 

Wanderer, step in, be still; 
Pain has petrified the threshold. 
There are - chaste in radiance gleaming -
on the table bread and wine.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
7. Im Frühling
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise sank von dunklen Schritten der Schnee,
Im Schatten des Baums
Heben die rosigen Lider Liebende.

Immer folgt den dunklen Rufen der Schiffer
Stern und Nacht;
Und die Ruder schlagen leise im Takt.

Balde an verfallener Mauer blühen
Die Veilchen
Ergrünt so stille die Schläfe des Einsamen.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
7. In Spring
Language: English 
Softly the snow was sinking from dark steps,
in the tree’s shadow
lovers raise their rosy eyelids. 

Ever star and night
follow the boatmen’s dark calls;
and the oars beat quietly keeping time. 

Soon by the dilapidated wall
violets blossom,
so silently the lonely one’s temple turns green.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 9
Word count: 48

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
8. Frühling der Seele
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Aufschrei im Schlaf; durch schwarze Gassen stürzt der Wind,
Das Blau des Frühlings winkt durch brechendes Geäst,
Purpurner Nachttau und es erlöschen rings die Sterne.
Grünlich dämmert der Fluß, silbern die alten Alleen
Und die Türme der Stadt. O sanfte Trunkenheit
Im gleitenden Kahn und die dunklen Rufe der Amsel
In kindlichen Gärten. Schon lichtet sich der rosige Flor.
Feierlich rauschen die Wasser. O die feuchten Schatten der Au,
Das schreitende Tier; Grünendes, Blütengezweig
Rührt die kristallene Stirne; schimmernder Schaukelkahn.
Leise tönt die Sonne im Rosengewölk am Hügel.
Groß ist die Stille des Tannenwalds, die ernsten Schatten am Fluß.
Reinheit! Reinheit! Wo sind die furchtbaren Pfade des Todes,
 ...

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
8. Spring of the Soul
Language: English 
Screaming in sleep; through black alleys the wind hurls, 
the blue of spring beckons through breaking branches, 
purple dew of night and all around the stars go out. 
Greenishly the river’s dawning, silvern the old boulevards
and city towers. O mellow drunkenness 
in the gliding boat and the dark calls of the blackbird 
in childhood’s gardens. Already the rosy gauze is lifting.
Solemnly the waters murmur. O, the mead’s moist shadows, 
the striding beast; lush greening, flowering branches 
touch the crystal brow; shimmering, bobbing boat. 
Quietly the sun sounds in the rosy clouds above the hill. 
Grand is the fir wood’s stillness, the solemn shadows at the river. 
Purity! Purity! Where are the terrible paths of death, 
[ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 28
Word count: 262

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann