In memoriam Georg Trakl

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Jan Stuten (1890 - 1948)

View original-language texts alone: In memoriam Georg Trakl

1. Trompeten
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Unter verschnittenen Weiden, wo braune Kinder spielen
und Blätter treiben, tönen Trompeten. Ein Kirchhofsschauer.
Fahnen von Scharlach stürzen durch des Ahorns Trauer,
Reiter entlang an Roggenfeldern, leeren Mühlen.

Oder Hirten singen nachts und Hirsche treten
in den Kreis ihrer Feuer, des Hains uralte Trauer.
Tanzende heben sich von einer schwarzen Mauer;
Fahnen von Scharlach, Lachen, Wahnsinn, Trompeten.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1. Clarions
Language: English 
Amidst the crippled willows, where tawny kids are playing
and leaves are driven, clarions sound. A churchyard-shudder.
Banners of scarlet tumble through the maple’s mourning,
horsemen past fields of rye, deserted mills.

Or shepherds sing at night and stags enter
the circle of their fires, the grove’s archaic mourning.
Dancers stand out against a black wall;
banners of scarlet, laughter, madness, clarions.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-01-18
Line count: 8
Word count: 62

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Menschheit
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Menschheit vor Feuerschlünden aufgestellt,
Ein Trommelwirbel, dunkler Krieger Stirnen,
Schritte durch Blutnebel; schwarzes Eisen schellt,
Verzweiflung, Nacht in traurigen Gehirnen:
Hier Evas Schatten, Jagd und rotes Geld.
Gewölk, das Licht durchbricht, das Abendmahl.
Es wohnt in Brot und Wein ein sanftes Schweigen
Und jene sind versammelt zwölf an Zahl.
Nachts schrein im Schlaf sie unter Ölbaumzweigen;
Sankt Thomas taucht die Hand ins Wundenmal.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
2. Mankind
Language: English 
Mankind deployed in front of fiery gorges, 
a drum roll, dark warriors' foreheads, 
footsteps through blood and fog; black iron rattles, 
desperateness, night in mournful brains: 
Here Eve's shadow, chase and blood-red money. 
Clouds, through which light pierces, the Last Supper. 
A noble stillness dwells in bread and wine 
and those have gathered, twelve in number. 
At night they scream in sleep beneath the olive branches. 
Saint Thomas thrusts his hand into the wounded side.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-01-18
Line count: 10
Word count: 75

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Im Osten
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Den wilden Orgeln des Wintersturms
Gleicht des Volkes finstrer Zorn,
Die purpurne Woge der Schlacht,
Entlaubter Sterne.

Mit zerbrochnen Brauen, silbernen Armen
Winkt sterbenden Soldaten die Nacht.
Im Schatten der herbstlichen Esche
Seufzen die Geister der Erschlagenen.

Dornige Wildnis umgürtet die Stadt.
Von blutenden Stufen jagt der Mond
Die erschrockenen Frauen.
Wilde Wölfe brachen durchs Tor.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3. In the East
Language: English 
Like the winter storm’s frenzied organs
is the people’s sable wrath,
the purple wave of the battle,
'tween stars, stripped of leaves.

With shattered brows, silvery arms
night beckons to dying soldiers.
In the shade of the autumn ash tree,
the ghosts of those groan who were slain.

Briary wilderness begirds the town.
The moon drives the terrified women
away from the bleeding steps.
Wild wolves broke through the gate.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-01-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 70

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Klage
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Schlaf und Tod, die düstern Adler
Umrauschen nachtlang dieses Haupt:
Des Menschen goldnes Bildnis
Verschlänge die eisige Woge
Der Ewigkeit. An schaurigen Riffen
Zerschellt der purpurne Leib
Und es klagt die dunkle Stimme
Über dem Meer.
Schwester stürmischer Schwermut
Sieh ein ängstlicher Kahn versinkt
Unter Sternen,
Dem schweigenden Antlitz der Nacht.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4. Lament
Language: English 
Sleep and death - sinister eagles
whirr all night long around this head:
Eternity’s freezing wave
would devour the golden image
of man. On horrible reefs
the purple body is shattered
and the dark voice laments
above the seas.
Sister of stormy sadness,
see, a fearful boat is sinking
under stars,
the silent countenance of night.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-01-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 56

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. Offenbarung und Untergang
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

Mit silbernen Sohlen stieg ich die dornigen 
Stufen hinab, und ich trat ins kalkgetünchte Gemach. 
Stille brannte ein Leuchter darin und ich verbarg 
in purpurnen Linnen schweigend das Haupt; und es 
warf die Erde einen kindlichen Leichnam aus, ein 
mondenes Gebilde, das langsam aus meinem Schatten 
trat, mit zerbrochenen Armen steinerne Stürze 
hinabsank, flockiger Schnee.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
5. Revelation and Doom
Language: English 
[ ... ]

With silver soles I descended the thorny steps 
and entered the whitewashed chamber. 
Calmly a candlestick burned inside and silently 
I buried my head in purple linen; and 
the earth gave off a childlike corpse, a 
moony shape that slowly stepped out of my shadow, 
sank with broken arms down from stony lintels, 
fluffy snow.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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: 2017-01-18
Line count: 103
Word count: 836

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Gesang des Abgeschiedenen
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
 ... 

Und es leuchtet ein Lämpchen, das Gute, in seinem Herzen
Und der Frieden des Mahls; denn geheiligt ist Brot und Wein
Von Gottes Händen, und es schaut aus nächtigen Augen
Stille dich der Bruder an, daß er ruhe von dorniger Wanderschaft.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
6. The hermit's song
Language: English 
[ ... ]

There's a shine of a small light, the goodness within his heart
and the peace of the meal; for hallowed are bread and wine
by the hands of God, and with the eyes of night the brother
quiescently looks at you, that he may rest from thorny wanderings.
O the dwelling in the enlivened blueness of night.

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: 19
Word count: 186

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann