English translations of Drei Lieder für hohe Stimme und Klavier, opus 11
by Hans Uwe Strübing (b. 1956)
Wie nun am dürren Ginsterhang, Im braunen Stein, im goldnen Staub, Im gilbenden Akazienlaub Der Sommer seinen Überschwang Austobt und in sich selbst verbrennt! Aus dürrer Schote knistern schwarze Kerne, Und abends hängen schwer die Sterne Wie überreif am Firmament, Das wie ein Puls im Fieber pocht Und von verhaltnen Wettern kocht. Wo eben noch in frohen Schauern Das Leben feucht und spielend rann, Keucht Sommer wütend hügelan Der Höhe zu. Er will nicht dauern, Er lechzt nach Rausch und Opferglück, Ihn rief der Tod: auf hagrem Pferde Jagt er voran und läßt die Erde Erschöpft, verblüht, verbrannt zurück. Und seufzend reckt sich Laub und Gras Und raschelt hart und klirrt wie Glas.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Hundstage", written 1933
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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.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 318-319.
Along the arid slope of gorse, In brown rocks, in golden dust, In the yellowing foliage of the acacias How summer expends its ardour in a rioting And burns up within itself! Black kernels crackle forth from desiccated seed-pods And in the evening the stars hang heavily, As if overripe, upon the firmament, Which throbs like a feverish pulse And seethes with suppressed storms. Where only just in joyful thrilling Life ran moistly and playfully, Summer [now] pants furiously up the hill Toward the pinnacle. It does not wish to last, It thirsts for intoxication and the joy of sacrifice, It was called by death: upon a scrawny steed It races ahead and leaves the earth Behind -- exhausted, faded, burned. And, sighing, leaves and grass stretch And rustle harshly and rattle like glass.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (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) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Hundstage", written 1933
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This text was added to the website: 2018-09-23
Line count: 20
Word count: 133
Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern! Einsam ist jeder Busch und Stein, Kein Baum sieht den andern, Jeder ist allein. Voll Freunden war mir die Welt, Als noch mein Leben licht war; Nun, da der Nebel fällt, Ist keiner mehr sichtbar. Wahrlich, keiner ist weise, Der nicht das Dunkel kennt, Das [unentrinnbar]1 und leise Von allen ihn trennt. Seltsam, im Nebel zu wandern! Leben ist [Einsamsein]2. Kein Mensch kennt den andern, Jeder ist allein.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Im Nebel", written 1905
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., 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.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 136-137.
1 Knayer: "unerbittlich"2 Knayer: "einsam sein"
Wondrous to wander through mists! Parted are bush and stone: None to the other exists, Each stands alone. Many my friends came calling then, when I lived in the light; Now that the fogs are falling, None is in sight. Truly, only the sages Fathom the darkness to fall, Which, as silent as cages, Separates all. Strange to walk in the mists! Life has to solitude grown. None for the other exists: Each is alone.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Walter A. Aue, (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.
Walter A. Aue. Contact: waue (AT) dal (DOT) ca
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Im Nebel", written 1905
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2010-03-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 75
Schaukelt im wehenden Föhnwind der Feigenbaum Wieder wie Schlangen wirr die gewundenen Aste, Steigt übers kahle Gebirg zu einsamem Feste Vollmond empor und beseelt mit Schatten den Raum, Spricht zwischen gleitenden Wolkenschiffen der Lichte Träumerisch mit sich selber und zaubert die Nacht Über dem Seetal still zum Seelenbild und Gedichte, Daß mir im Herzen zuinnerst Musik erwacht, Dann erhebt sich in drängender Sehnsucht die Seele, Fühlt sich jung und begehrt ins flutende Leben zurück, Kämpft mit dem Schicksal und ahnt, woran es ihr fehle, Summt sich Lieder und spielt mit dem Traume vom Glück, Möchte noch einmal beginnen, noch einmal der fernen Jugend heiße Gewalten beschwören ins kühlere Heut, Möchte wandern und werben und bis zu den Sternen Dehnen der schweifenden Wünsche dunkles Geläut. Zögernd schließ ich das Fenster, entzünde das Licht, Seh die weißglänzenden Kissen des Bettes warten, Weiß den Mond und die Welt und das wehende Wolkengedicht Draußen lebendig im Föhn überm silbrigen Garten, Finde zurück mich langsam zu meinen gewohnten Dingen, Höre bis in den Schlaf das Lied meiner Jugend klingen.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Föhnige Nacht", written 1938
Go to the general single-text view
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.
Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 355-356.
When once again the fig tree rocks its twined branches Crazily, like snakes, in the blowing Föhn-wind, [When] over the bare mountains the full moon rises to A solitary festival and inspirits the region with shadows, [When] between drifting cloud-ships, the bright one speaks Dreamily to himself and quietly enchants the night Over the valley of the lake to a soul-image and to poems, So that in my innermost heart music awakens, Then my soul rises in urgent yearning, Feels itself to be young and desires to return to the rushing life, Battles with fate and senses what it lacks, Hums songs to itself and toys with the dream of happiness, Wishes to begin again, once more to invoke the Torrid powers of youth into the cooler present, Wishes to wander and woo and expand the darksome tolling Of rambling wishes all the way to the stars. Reluctantly I close the window, light the lamp, See the whitely-gleaming pillows of my bed waiting, Know that the moon and world and the wafting cloud-poem Are outside, alive in the Föhn-wind over the silvery garden, Slowly find myself back to my accustomed things, Hear all the way into sleep the song of my youth ringing.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (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) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Föhnige Nacht", written 1938
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2018-05-19
Line count: 22
Word count: 203