English translations of Vier Gedichte von Hermann Hesse, opus 23
by Volkmar Andreae (1879 - 1962)
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Ich bin auch in Ravenna gewesen, Ist eine kleine, tote Stadt, Die Kirchen und viel Ruinen hat, Man kann davon in den Büchern lesen. Du gehst hindurch und schaust dich um, Die Straßen sind so trüb und naß Und sind so tausendjährig stumm, Und überall wächst Moos und Gras! Das ist wie alte Lieder sind, Man hört sie an und keiner lacht Ein jeder lauscht und jeder sinnt Hernach daran bis in die Nacht.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1901, appears in Unterwegs, in Ravenna (1901), no. 1, first published 1911
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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.
I have also been in Ravenna; it is a small, dead town, and has churches and many ruins that one can read about in books. You walk about and gaze around: the streets are so gloomy and wet, and so mute with the weight of a thousand years, and everywhere grows moss and grass! It is as old songs are: people hear them but no one laughs, and each listens and each reflects upon them until deep in the night.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1901, appears in Unterwegs, in Ravenna (1901), no. 1, first published 1911
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 80
Die Stunden eilen -- Mitternacht! Am Himmel ist nicht Mond, nicht Stern. Ob unsrer Reise halte Wacht, Madonna, Mutter unsres Herrn! Die Stunden eilen. Bank und Riff Sind nah. Madonna, lenke du Durch Sturm und Mitternacht das Schiff Dem Hafen und der Heimat zu! Die Stunden eilen ohne Rast. Madonna des Erbarmens du, Die du den Herrn geboren hast, Hilf uns dereinst zur ewigen Ruh!
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Gebet der Schiffer", subtitle: "Adriatisches Meer", written 1901
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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.
The hours hasten -- midnight! Upon the heavens no moon, no star. Keep watch over our journey, Madonna, Mother of our Lord! The hours hasten. Shore and reef Are near. Madonna, steer Thou The ship through storm and midnight Toward the harbour and home! The hours hasten without halting. Madonna of mercy, Thou Who gave birth to the Lord, Help us some day to eternal rest!
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), "Gebet der Schiffer", subtitle: "Adriatisches Meer", written 1901
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Subtitle: "Adriatic Sea"
Translations of title(s):
"Gebet der Schiffer auf dem adriatischen Meer" = "Prayer of the sailors on the Adriatic Sea"
"Gebet der Schiffer" = "Prayer of the sailors"
This text was added to the website: 2018-03-03
Line count: 12
Word count: 65
In großen Takten singt das Meer, Der schwüle Westwind heult und lacht, Sturmwolken jagen schwarz und schwer; Man sieht sie nicht, es ist zu nacht. Mir aber scheint: so tot und bang, So ohne Trost und Sternegold Durch schwüle Nacht und Sturmgesang Sei auch mein Leben hingerollt. Und doch ist keine Nacht so schwer Und so voll Dunkels keine Fahrt, Der nicht vom nahen Morgen her Des Lichtes süße Ahnung ward.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Bei Spezia", written 1901
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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.
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 116-117.
The sea sings in vast rhythms, The humid westwind howls and laughs, Storm-clouds scud, black and heavy; One does not see them, it is night. But it seems to me: so dead and anxious, So without comfort and star-gold Through humid night and the singing of the storm, My life, too, rolled past. And yet no night is so heavy, And no journey so full of darkness, That from the near morning there does not Come to it the sweet premonition of light.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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), "Bei Spezia", written 1901
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This text was added to the website: 2017-02-04
Line count: 12
Word count: 83
Spiegellichter flackern hin und wieder, Meine Barke wiegt sich breit und schwer Über der Lagune auf und nieder, Laut am Lido singt und schreit das Meer. Meine Segel sind entschlafen In der warmen Mittagsglut, Meine Wünsche sind im Hafen Und mein Ruder ruht. Starkes, wunderliches Leben! Meine Stirn hast du versengt, Stürme hast du mir gegeben Und mich aus der Bahn gedrängt. Trotzig hast du mich im Sturm gefunden, Spottend sah ich dir ins Angesicht; Doch dem Zauber deiner Feierstunden, Deiner Koselieder widersteh ich nicht. Träumend hängt mein Blick am Himmelsbogen, Wo ein Wolkenflug sich seewärts schwingt, Träumend lausch ich auf den Chor der Wogen, Der mir Frieden in die Seele singt. Meine Segel sind entschlafen In der warmen Mittagsglut, Meine Wünsche sind im Hafen Und mein Ruder ruht.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Barcarole", written c1903
See other settings of this text.
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.
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 137-138.
Reflected lights flicker back and forth, My barque sways broadly and heavily Up and down across the lagoon, The sea sings and shouts loudly upon the Lido. My sails have gone to sleep In the warm glow of midday, My wishes have reached the harbour And my oars rest. Strong, whimsical life! You have singed my brow, Storms you have given me And thrown me off course. You have found me to be defiant in the storm, I looked into your face with scorn; But the magic of your hours of repose, Of your caressing songs, I cannot resist. Dreamily my gaze dwells upon the arch of the heavens Where a bank of clouds turns seaward, Dreamily I hearken to the choir of the waves, Which sings peace into my soul. My sails have gone to sleep In the warm glow of midday, My wishes have reached the harbour And my oars rest.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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), "Barcarole", written c1903
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-02-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 153