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Four choruses on poems by Georg Trakl
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by Steffen Schleiermacher (b. 1960)
View original-language texts alone: Vier Chöre nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl
Am Abend, wenn die Glocken Frieden läuten, Folg' ich der Vögel wundervollen Flügen, Die lang geschart, gleich frommen Pilgerzügen, Entschwinden in den herbstlich klaren Weiten. Hinwandelnd durch den dämmervollen Garten Träum' ich nach ihren helleren Geschicken Und fühl' der Stunden Weiser kaum mehr rücken. So folg' ich über Wolken ihrer Fahrten. Da macht ein Hauch mich von Verfall erzittern. Die Amsel klagt in den entlaubten Zweigen. Es schwankt der rote Wein an rostigen Gittern. Indes wie blasser Kinder Todesreigen Um dunkle Brunnenränder, die verwittern, Im Wind sich fröstelnd blaue Astern neigen.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Verfall", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Decay", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Decay", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Décomposition", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Decadenza", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
At nightfall, when the bells of peace are ringing, I follow the birds’ wonderful migration, that in long rows, like groups of pious pilgrims, pass out of sight into fall’s clear expanses. Walking at leisure through the dusky garden I dream after their destinies, much brighter, and hardly feel the hour hand’s advancing. Above the clouds I follow thus their journeys. A soft whiff of decay makes me then tremble. The blackbird wails in the bare-facèd branches. The crimson vine leaves sway on rusty treillage. Meanwhile like death-dances of pallid children around dark brims of fountains decomposing, in autumn’s wind blue asters bend and shiver.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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), "Verfall", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 105
Erinnerung, begrabene Hoffnung Bewahrt dies braune Gebälk Darüber Georginen hangen, Immer stillere Heimkehr, Der verfallne Garten [dunklen]1 Abglanz [Kindlicher]2 Jahre, Daß von blauen Lidern [Tränen]3 stürzen [Unaufhaltsam; Hinüberschimmern der Schwermut Kristallne Minuten Zur Nacht.]4
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Herbstliche Heimkehr"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Retour automnal", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Third version.
1 Trakl's first version: "den dunklen"
2 first version: "Vergangener"; second version: "Vergangner"
3 first version: "die Tränen"
4 first version: "Dem Fremdling unaufhaltsam." ; second version:
Unaufhaltsam. O Geliebtes! Schon tropft vom rostigen Ahorn Laub, hinüberschimmern der Schwermut Kristallne Minuten Zur Nacht.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Remembrance, buried hope is preserved by these brown beams over which Dahlias trail. Ever calmer homecoming, the abandoned garden, dark reflection of childhood years, that tears fall from blue lids [unstoppably; melancholy’s crystal minutes blink over to the night.]1
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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), "Herbstliche Heimkehr"
Go to the single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)Translation of titles
"Herbstliche Heimkehr (1. Fassung)" = "Autumnal homecoming (first version)"
"Herbstliche Heimkehr" = "Autumnal homecoming"
Unstoppably. O beloved! Already leaves are dropping from the rusty maple, melancholy’s crystal minutes blink over to the night.
This text was added to the website: 2016-06-26
Line count: 11
Word count: 39
In Hof scheint weiß der herbstliche Mond. Vom Dachrand fallen phantastische Schatten. Ein Schweigen in leeren Fenstern wohnt; Da tauchen leise herauf die Ratten Und huschen pfeifend hier und dort Und ein gräulicher Dunsthauch wittert Ihnen nach aus dem Abort, Den geisterhaft der Mondschein durchzittert Und sie keifen vor Gier wie toll Und erfüllen Haus und Scheunen, Die von Korn und Früchten voll. Eisige Winde im Dunkel greinen.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Die Ratten", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "The rats", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Les rats", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "I topi", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
The autumn moon shines milk-white in the yard. Chimeric shadows fall from eaves and crests. A silence dwells in empty windows; then furtively the rats appear and scurry whistling here and there and a grayish vapour scents them following them from the latrine, on which the moonlight quivers eerily and they shriek as if mad from greed and crowd barns and houses, full of grain and fruit. Icy winds whine in the darkness.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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), "Die Ratten", appears in Gedichte 1909 -1913
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 73
Nimmer das goldene Antlitz des Frühlings; Dunkles Lachen im Haselgebüsch. Abendspaziergang im Wald Und der inbrünstige Schrei der Amsel. Taglang rauscht in der Seele des Fremdlings das glühende Grün. Metallne Minute: Mittag, Verzweiflung des Sommers; Die Schatten der Buchen und das gelbliche Korn. Taufe in keuschen Wassern. O der purpurne Mensch. Ihm aber gleichen Wald, Weiher und weißes Wild. Kreuz und Kirche im Dorf. In dunklem Gespräch Erkannten sich Mann und Weib Und an kahler Mauer wandelt mit seinen Gestirnen der Einsame. Leise über den mondbeglänzten Weg des Walds Sank die Wildnis vergessener Jagden. Blick der Bläue aus verfallenen Felsen bricht.
Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "An Mauern hin", subtitle: "Im Dunkel"
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Bertram Kottmann) , "Along walls", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le long des murs", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Never the golden countenance of spring; dark laughter in the hazel bushes. Evening walk in the forest and the blackbird’s passionate call. For days the blazing green whispers in the stranger’s soul. Metal minute: midday, summer’s despair; The shadows of the beeches and the yellowish grain. Baptism in chaste waters. O, the purple man. But forest, pond and white deer resemble him. Cross and church in the village. In dark conversation man and woman knew each other and the lonely one walks with his stars along a bleak wall. Quietly over the moon-silvered wooded trail the fierceness of forgotten hunting sank. Gaze of blueness breaking from eroded rocks.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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), "An Mauern hin", subtitle: "Im Dunkel"
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 108