Vier Lieder für Gesang und Klavier

Song Cycle by Hanns Eisler (1898 - 1962)

1. Spruch 1939
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
In den finsteren Zeiten wird da noch gesungen werden?
Ja! da wird gesungen werden von den finsteren Zeiten,
da wird gesungen werden, von den finstern Zeiten.

Text Authorship:

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "Proverb 1939", copyright © 2005, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Maxime 1939", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Zweck der Musik (Lateinischer Spruch)
 (Sung text)

Language: Latin 
Cur adhibes tristi numeros cantuumque labori?
Ut relevent miserum fatum solitosque labores.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, first published 1591

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (David A. Poirier) , "What’s the Point of Music (Latin Proverb)", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "The Point of Music (Latin proverb)", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Notes provided by Laura Prichard:
In the second line, the names of the notes of the six-note Guidonian scale are hidden in the first syllables of each word: UT RElevent MIserum FAtum SOLitosque LAbores.
The text first appears in the music rudiments book "Compendium musical platinum-germanicum" (1591) by Adam Gumpelzhaimer (1559-1625), Cantor and Präzeptor at the school and church of St. Anna in Augsburg, Germany and at the Augsburg Cathedral. The saying was well known throughout Europe by the middle of the seventeenth century.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Zweck der Musik (Lateinischer Spruch)
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
 Warum fügst du zur traurigen Arbeit so viele Gesänge?
 Damit sie das elende Geschick und die täglichen Arbeiten erleichtern.

Text Authorship:

  • Singable translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Winterspruch
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Schnee beginnt zu treiben.
Wer wird denn da bleiben?
Da bleiben wird, morgen wie heut,
Die kalten Steine und die armen Leut'.

Text Authorship:

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

4. Spruch
 (Sung text)

Language: German (Deutsch) 
Dies ist nun alles und ist nicht genug.
Doch sagt es euch vielleicht, ich bin noch da.
Dem gleich ich, der den Backstein mit sich trug
Der Welt zu zeigen, wie sein Haus aussah.

Text Authorship:

Go to the general single-text view

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Maxime", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 115