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Ein starker Geist hält seine weiße Hand Weit über seine Berge ausgespannt. Groß ist das Leuchten seines Angesichts, Ich aber fürcht' ihn nicht: er tut mir nichts. In schwarzen Schlüften hab' ich ihn gespürt, Auf hohen Gipfeln sein Gewand berührt. Ich hab ihn oft aus leisem Schlaf geweckt Und zwischen Tod und Leben frech geneckt. Und stundenlang, wenn ich im Herzen litt, Ging er auf Gletscherwegen leise mit Und legte gütig seine kühle Hand Auf meine Stirne, bis ich Frieden fand.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, page 115.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Berggeist", written 1902, appears in Neue deutsche Lyriker III , in Von Wanderungen, in Hochgebirgswinter, no. 2, first published 1919 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Paul Baumann (b. 1887), "Berggeist", published <<1917 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Yrjö Henrik Kilpinen (1892 - 1959), "Berggeist", op. 99 no. 3 (1954), published 1957 [ voice and piano ], from Hochgebirgswinter, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L’esperit de les muntanyes", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Mountain spirit", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'esprit de la montagne", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 81
A strong spirit holds his white hand Outstretched far over his mountains. Great is the shining of his countenance, But I do not fear him: he does me no harm. In black gorges I have discerned him, Upon high peaks [I have] touched his garments. I often awakened him from a light slumber And cheekily teased him between life and death. And for hours on end, when I was suffering in my heart, He softly accompanied me upon the glacial paths And kindheartedly placed his cool hand Upon my brow until I found peace.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Berggeist", written 1902, appears in Neue deutsche Lyriker III , in Von Wanderungen, in Hochgebirgswinter, no. 2, first published 1919
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-12
Line count: 12
Word count: 94