English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 89

by Hans Uwe Strübing (b. 1956)

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1. Abendmuse
 (Sung text)
by Hans Uwe Strübing (b. 1956), "Abendmuse", op. 89 (Vier Lieder) no. 1 (2007), first performed 2011 [ soprano and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ans Blumenfenster wieder kehrt des Kirchturms Schatten
Und Goldnes. Die heiße Stirn verglüht in Ruh und Schweigen.
Ein Brunnen fällt im Dunkel von Kastanienzweigen –
Da fühlst du: es ist gut! in schmerzlichem Ermatten.

Der Markt ist leer von Sommerfrüchten und Gewinden.
Einträchtig stimmt der Tore schwärzliches Gepränge.
In einem Garten tönen sanften Spieles Klänge,
Wo Freunde nach dem Mahle sich zusammenfinden.

Des weißen Magiers Märchen lauscht die Seele gerne.
Rund saust das Korn, das Mäher nachmittags geschnitten.
Geduldig schweigt das harte Leben in den Hütten;
Der Kühe linden Schlaf bescheint die Stallaterne.

Von Lüften trunken sinken balde ein die Lider
Und öffnen leise sich zu fremden Sternenzeichen.
Endymion taucht aus dem Dunkel alter Eichen
Und beugt sich über trauervolle Wasser nieder.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1. Evening muse
Language: English 
Back to the flower window the steeple’s shadow comes
and something golden. The forehead, hot, dies down in rest and silence. 
A fountain falls from chestnut branches in the darkness - 
then you will feel: It’s good! In pain and in exhaustion. 

The market all sold out of summer fruits and garlands. 
Harmoniously matches the gates' darkish splendour. 
The tones of soft play sounding in a garden,
where friends will get together after meals. 

The soul likes listening to the white magician's fairies. 
The ears of corn swish all around, when scythed by mowers afternoons. 
The hard life in the huts keeps silent, uncomplaining; 
the lantern in the cowshed shines upon the cows’ light sleep. 

Drunken with air the eyelids soon will lower
and softly open up to unknown constellations. 
Endymion emerges from the darkness of old oaks 
and bends down over sombre waters.

Text 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:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-24
Line count: 16
Word count: 143

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Im Dunkel
 (Sung text)
by Hans Uwe Strübing (b. 1956), "Im Dunkel", op. 89 (Vier Lieder) no. 2 (2007), first performed 2011 [ soprano and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es schweigt die Seele den blauen Frühling. 
Unter feuchtem Abendgezweig 
Sank in Schauern die Stirne den Liebenden.

O das grünende Kreuz. In dunklem Gespräch 
Erkannten sich Mann und Weib. 
An kahler Mauer 
Wandelt in seinen Gestirnen der Einsame. 

Über die mondbeglänzten Wege des Walds 
Sank die Wildnis 
Vergessener Jagden; Blick der Bläue 
Aus verfallenen Felsen bricht.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
2. In the dark
Language: English 
The soul silently utters the blue springtime. 
Under damp evening branches
the lovers’ forehead sank in shudders. 

O the blossoming cross. In dark devotion 
Man and Woman knew each other. 
Along the bleak wall
the lonely one wanders in the world of his stars. 

Over the forest paths, resplendent with the moon, 
the wilderness 
of forgotten hunts was sinking; gaze of blueness 
breaks from ruinous rocks.

Text 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:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-25
Line count: 11
Word count: 66

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Der Gewitterabend
 (Sung text)
by Hans Uwe Strübing (b. 1956), "Der Gewitterabend", op. 89 (Vier Lieder) no. 3 (2007), first performed 2011 [ soprano and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O die roten Abendstunden!
Flimmernd schwankt am offenen Fenster
Weinlaub wirr ins Blau gewunden,
Drinnen nisten Angstgespenster.

Staub tanzt im Gestank der Gossen.
Klirrend stößt der Wind in Scheiben.
Einen Zug von wilden Rossen
Blitze grelle Wolken treiben,

Laut zerspringt der Weiherspiegel.
Möwen schrein am Fensterrahmen.
Feuerreiter sprengt vom Hügel
Und zerschellt im Tann zu Flammen.

Kranke kreischen im Spitale.
Bläulich schwirrt der Nacht Gefieder.
Glitzernd braust mit einem Male
Regen auf die Dächer nieder.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3. The thunderstorm evening
Language: English 
O these glowing evening hours! 
Vine leaves by the open window 
sway and shimmer, blue entangled.
Indoors ghosts of anguish nestle. 

Dust whirls in the stench of gutters. 
Gusts of wind knock at the windows. 
Like a mob of frenzied horses 
lurid clouds driven by lightnings. 

Loudly the pond’s surface shatters. 
Gulls cry at the casement windows. 
Fire-rider downhill thunders
smashed to flames in yonder forest. 

Shrieks in hospital from patients. 
Bluish the night's feathers whirring. 
All at once a glistening bluster
of the rain upon the housetops.

Text 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 16
Word count: 88

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Abendlied
 (Sung text)
by Hans Uwe Strübing (b. 1956), "Abendlied", op. 89 (Vier Lieder) no. 4 (2007), first performed 2011 [ soprano and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Abend, wenn wir auf dunklen Pfaden gehn,
Erscheinen unsere bleichen Gestalten vor uns. 

Wenn uns dürstet,
Trinken wir die weißen Wasser des Teichs,
Die Süße unserer traurigen Kindheit. 

Erstorbene ruhen wir unterm Hollundergebüsch,
Schaun den grauen Möven zu. 

Frühlingsgewölke steigen über die finstere Stadt,
Die der Mönche edlere Zeiten schweigt. 

Da ich deine schmalen Hände nahm
Schlugst du leise die runden Augen auf,
Dieses ist lange her. 

Doch wenn dunkler Wohllaut die Seele heimsucht,
Erscheinst du Weiße in des Freundes herbstlicher Landschaft.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4. Evening song
Language: English 
In the evening, when we walk on gloomy paths,
our pallid contours emerge ahead of us.

When we’re thirsty,
we sip the white waters of the mere,
the sweetness of our mirthless childhood.

Departed, we rest under the elder bushes,
watching grey gulls.

Spring clouds soar above the glowering town,
that conceals monks’ nobler times.

When I took your slim hands,
you gently opened your round eyes.
This is long ago.

Yet, when dark harmonious melodies haunt the soul,
you - white figure - appear in the friend’s autumnal scene.

Text 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:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 14
Word count: 88

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann