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In memoriam Georg Trakl
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by Jan Stuten (1890 - 1948)
View original-language texts alone: In memoriam Georg Trakl
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.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Trompeten", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Elisabeth Siekhaus) , "Trumpets", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Clarions", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Trompettes", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Trombe", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
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.
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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Trompeten", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
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This text was added to the website: 2017-01-18
Line count: 8
Word count: 62
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.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Menschheit", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Mankind", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Humanité", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Umanità", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
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.
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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Menschheit", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-01-18
Line count: 10
Word count: 75
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.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Im Osten", appears in Offenbarung und Untergang
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "In the East ", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "À l'est", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "A est", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
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.
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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Im Osten", appears in Offenbarung und Untergang
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-01-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 70
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.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Klage", appears in Offenbarung und Untergang
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Lament", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Plainte", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Lamento", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
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.
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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Klage", appears in Offenbarung und Untergang
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-01-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 56
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.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Offenbarung und Untergang", appears in Offenbarung und Untergang
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Revelation and Doom ", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Avec des semelles d'argent je descends les marches", dernier paragraphe de 'Révélation et déclin', copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Disvelamento e rovina", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Note: this is a prose text; the line breaks are arbitrary.
Researcher for this page: Harry Joelson
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.
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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Offenbarung und Untergang", appears in Offenbarung und Untergang
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-01-18
Line count: 103
Word count: 839
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.
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Gesang des Abgeschiedenen", appears in Sebastian im Traum, in Gesang des Abgeschiedenen, An Karl Borromaeus Heinrich
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "The hermit's song", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Chant du séparé", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Canto del solitario", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
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.
[ ... ]
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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Gesang des Abgeschiedenen", appears in Sebastian im Traum, in Gesang des Abgeschiedenen, An Karl Borromaeus Heinrich
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2010-06-14
Line count: 19
Word count: 186