Trakl Songs I

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Wilhelm Killmayer (1927 - 2017)

View original-language texts alone: Trakl-Lieder I

1. An Novalis (2. Fassung)
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In dunkler Erde ruht der heilige Fremdling
In zarter Knospe
Wuchs dem Jüngling der göttliche Geist,
Das trunkene Saitenspiel
Und verstummte in rosiger Blüte.

Text Authorship:

  • by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "An Novalis (2. Fassung)"

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1.
Language: English 
In dark earth the sacred stranger rests.
From a delicate bud
the divine spirit grew in the youth.
the drunken music of the strings,
and fell silent in promising blossom.

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

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 5
Word count: 30

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.

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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

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

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. 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.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3. 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

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

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Sonja
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Abend kehrt in alten Garten;
Sonjas Leben, blaue Stille.
Wilder Vögel Wanderfahrten;
Kahler Baum in Herbst und Stille.

Sonnenblume, sanftgeneigte
Über Sonjas weißes Leben.
Wunde, rote, niegezeigte
Läßt in dunklen Zimmern leben,

Wo die blauen Glocken läuten;
Sonjas Schritt und sanfte Stille.
Sterbend Tier grüßt im Entgleiten,
Kahler Baum in Herbst und Stille.

Sonne alter Tage leuchtet
Über Sonjas weiße Brauen,
Schnee, der ihre Wangen feuchtet,
Und die Wildnis ihrer Brauen.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4. Sonja
Language: English 
Evening sinks on ancient garden;
Sonja’s being, deep blue stillness.
Birds of passage on their wanderings;
balding tree in autumn stillness.

Sunflow’r, bent in gentle manner 
over Sonja’s life of whiteness.
Wound, still red and ne’er revealèd,
makes her live in darkened chambers,

where the azure bells are ringing;
Sonja’s step and gentle stillness.
Dying beast greets in deceasing,
balding tree in autumn stillness.

Sun of bygone days is gleaming
over Sonja’s brows of whiteness,
snowflakes, that her cheeks have moistened
and her wildly growing brows.

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

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 86

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. Sommersneige
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der grüne Sommer ist so leise
Geworden, dein kristallenes Antlitz.
Am Abendweiher starben die Blumen,
Ein erschrockener Amselruf.
 
Vergebliche Hoffnung des Lebens.
Schon rüstet Zur Reise sich die Schwalbe im Haus
Und die Sonne versinkt am Hügel;
Schon winkt zur Sternenreise die Nacht.
 
Stille der Dörfer; es tönen rings
Die verlassenen Wälder. Herz,
Neige dich nun liebender
Über die ruhige Schläferin.
 
Der grüne Sommer ist so leise
Geworden und es läutet der Schritt
Des Fremdlings durch die silberne Nacht.
Gedächte ein blaues Wild seines Pfads,
Des Wohllauts seiner geistlichen Jahre!

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
5. Summer's decline
Language: English 
The verdant summer has been growing
so muted, your countenance of crystal.
By the vespertine pond the flowers died,
an alarmed blackbird's call.

In vain is the hope of life. Prepared is
the swallow at home for its journey
and the sun is sinking by the hill;
night beckons to travel to the stars. 

Silence in hamlets. Around resound
the deserted forests. Heart,
bend now with deeper love
over the placidly sleeping girl.

The verdant summer has been growing
so muted, and the stranger's footstep
is ringing through the silvery night.
Would a blue deer think of his pathways,
the concord of his spiritual years!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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: 2010-06-14
Line count: 17
Word count: 105

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. 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.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
5. 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

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Based on:

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

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
7. In Schwesters Garten (2. Fassung)
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In Schwesters Garten still und stad
Ein Blau ein Rot von Blumen spat
Ihr Schritt ist weiß geworden.
Ein Amselruf verirrt und spat
In Schwesters Garten still und stad;
Ein Engel ist geworden.

Text Authorship:

  • by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Schwesters Garten (2. Fassung)"

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
7.
Language: English 
In sister’s garden still and calm
a blue, a red from flowers late
her step has turnèd white.
A blackbird’s cry, astray and late,
in sister’s garden still and calm;
an angel has arisen.

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

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 6
Word count: 34

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
8. Fragment 11
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schneeige Nacht!
Ihr dunklen Schläfer
Unter der Brücke
Von zerbrochener Stirne
Tropft kristallner Schweiß euch

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
8. Fragment 11
Language: English 
Snowy night!
You dark sleepers
beneath the bridge
from your broken brow
crystal sweat is dripping.

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:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 5
Word count: 17

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann