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Richten will ich Tisch und Gastmahl, Laden die unselig lieben; Und mein Herz geb' ich zu essen, Und zu trinken ihnen Tränen. Seufzer, Klagen sind die Diener, Die Verliebten zu bedienen; Und der Schenk soll schwarzer Tod sein; Weint ihr Steine, seufzt ihr Mauern! Heil'ger Tod, das soll der Schenk sein; Steine, seufzt und rufet "Ach!" nur.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Ferdinand Gregorovius, Wanderjahre in Italien, Erster Band, Figuren. Geschichte, Leben und Scenerie aus Italien, Vierte Auflage, Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1874, page 314.
Text Authorship:
- by Ferdinand Gregorovius (1821 - 1891), no title, appears in Wanderjahre in Italien, in Toscanische Melodieen, no. 22 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , Tuscan [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ernst Frank (1847 - 1889), "Richten will ich Tisch und Gastmahl", op. 11 no. 6, published 1875 [ voice and piano ], from Zehn toscanische Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 6, Mannheim, Sohler & D. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gustav Jenner (1865 - 1920), "Richten will ich Tisch und Gastmahl" [ SATB chorus and piano ], from 12 Quartette aus dem Toskanischen für 4 Singstimmen (SATB) mit Klavier, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "I wish to lay a table and prepare a banquet", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Je dresserai une table pour un banquet", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 57
I wish to lay a table and prepare a banquet, Invite those who are unfortunate in love; And I shall give them my heart to eat, And tears to drink. Sighs and laments are the waiters To serve those who are in love; And the butler shall be black Death; Weep, ye stones, sigh, ye walls! Holy Death is to be the butler; Ye stones, sigh and call out nothing but "Alas!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 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 Ferdinand Gregorovius (1821 - 1891), no title, appears in Wanderjahre in Italien, in Toscanische Melodieen, no. 22
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , Tuscan [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2024-05-01
Line count: 10
Word count: 72