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Auf seiner Knochenpfeife bläst der Tod, Ein bleicher Hirte an der Kirchhofsmauer lehnend, Behütet er die stille Heerde, leise, sehnend Beginnt sein einsam Lied der Tod. Das Mondlicht fließt über den weiten Plan, Unruhig hebt plötzlich die Weise an, Wie klagende Thränen die Niemand stillt, Hei! wie das jetzt wild und grausig schrillt, Wie gepeinigtes Seufzen im Weltenraum, Wie das Klagen der Seele im Fiebertraum, So heulet und gellt [nun]1 des Todes Reigen! Vor dem die Bäume sich zitternd neigen, Vor dem die Blume verhüllt ihr Gesicht, Vor dem sich der Wurm in die Erde verkriecht. Ihr Wachen, ihr Siechen, verschließt euer Ohr Dem Liede des Spielmanns beim Kirchhofstor, Es stirbt euer Herz, es starrt euer Blut, Ihr Wachen, ihr Siechen, seid auf der Hut!
1 Brandts-Buys: "nur"
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Jan Willem Frans Brandts-Buys (1868 - 1933), "Nachtruf", op. 20 (Drei Lieder) no. 1, published 1911 [ voice, flute and piano ], Drei-Masken-Verlag, München [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Night call", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-11-19
Line count: 18
Word count: 126
Death blows upon his pipe of bone; A pale shepherd leaning against the churchyard wall, He guards the silent flock; quietly, yearningly Death begins his lonely song. Moonlight flows over the broad area, Restively the meadow suddenly breaks out, Like lamenting tears that no one quiets; Ah! how it now shrills wildly and gruesomely, Like tortured sighing in the universe, Like the wailing of a soul in a fevered dream, Thus [now]1 the dance of death howls and rings out! Before which the trees bow down tremblingly, Before which the flowers hide their faces, Before which the worm withdraws fearfully into the soil. Those of you who are sleepless, those who are sick, shut your ears To the song of the musician by the gate of the churchyard, Your heart shall die, your blood shall freeze, You wakeful ones, you sick ones, beware!
1 Brandts-Buys: "only"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2015 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Victor Heindl
This text was added to the website: 2015-10-21
Line count: 18
Word count: 144