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Einstmals in einem tiefen Tal Kukuk und Nachtigall Täten ein Wett' anschlagen: Zu singen um das Meisterstück, Gewinn' es Kunst, gewinn' es Glück: Dank soll er davon tragen. Der Kukuk sprach: "So dir's gefällt, Hab' ich den Richter wählt", Und tät gleich den Esel ernennen. "Denn weil er hat zwei Ohren groß, So kann er hören desto bos Und, was recht ist, kennen!" Sie flogen vor den Richter bald. Wie dem die Sache ward erzählt, Schuf er, sie sollten singen. Die Nachtigall sang lieblich aus! Der Esel sprach: "Du machst mir's kraus! Du machst mir's kraus! I-ja! I-ja! Ich kann's in Kopf nicht bringen!" Der Kukuk drauf fing an geschwind Sein Sang durch Terz und Quart und Quint. Dem Esel g'fiels, er sprach nur "Wart! Wart! Wart! Dein Urteil will ich sprechen, Wohl sungen hast du, Nachtigall! Aber Kukuk, singst gut Choral! Und hältst den Takt fein innen! Das sprech' ich nach mein' hoh'n Verstand! Und kost' es gleich ein ganzes Land, So laß ich's dich gewinnen!"
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn [author's text not yet checked 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 Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Lob des hohen Verstands", 1896, published 1899 [ voice and orchestra or piano ], from Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (formerly "Humoresken"), no. 10 [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Carl Loewe.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Elogi del coneixement superior", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In praise of higher understanding", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Éloge de la haute sagesse", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Lode all'alta competenza", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elena María Accinelli) , "Alabanza a la mente superior", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 29
Word count: 167
Una vegada, en una profunda vall, el cucut i el rossinyol van fer una juguesca: cantar una obra mestra, el que guanyés per art o per sort, s’emportaria la glòria. El cucut digué: “Si estàs d’acord, jo escolliré el jutge.” I tot seguit designà l’ase. “Car com té dues orelles ben grosses, ell pot sentir molt millor, i sabrà el que és correcte!” De seguit s’envolaren vers el jutge. I quan la qüestió li fou explicada, ell els digué que cantessin. El rossinyol cantà adorablement! L’ase digué: “Tu em fas rodar el cap! Tu em fas rodar el cap! I-ah! I-ah! El meu cap no ho pot suportar!” Llavors el cucut amb rapidesa començà el seu cant amb terceres, quartes i quintes. A l’ase li agradà, i digué tan sols: “Espera, espera, espera! Ara donaré el veredicte, tu has cantat molt bé, rossinyol! Però cucut, tu has cantat un bon coral! I tu saps mantenir molt bé el compàs! Això ho dic segons el meu coneixement superior, i encara que valgui un país sencer, et declaro el guanyador!”
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Catalan (Català) copyright © 2021 by Salvador Pila, (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) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn
This text was added to the website: 2021-03-29
Line count: 29
Word count: 178