English translations of Vier Lieder, opus 6

by Hans Erich Apostel (1901 - 1972)

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1. O wenn ein Herz, ‑ ‑ ‑
 (Sung text)
by Hans Erich Apostel (1901 - 1972), "O wenn ein Herz, - - -", op. 6 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, published 1937, stanzas 1-2 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Universal-Edition, Nr. 10917
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O wenn ein Herz, längst wohnend im Entwöhnen,
von aller Kunft und Zuversicht getrennt,
erwacht und plötzlich hört, wie man es nennt:
»Du Überfluß, Du Fülle eines Schönen!« 

Was soll es tun? Wie sich dem Glück versöhnen,
das kommt und seine Hand und Wange kennt?
Schmerz zu verschweigen war sein Element,
nun zwingt das Liebes-Staunen es, zu tönen.

 ...

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1. Oh when a heart, - - -
Language: English 
Oh when a heart, long dwelling in renunciation,
separated from all coming and assurance,
wakens and suddenly hears, how it is called:
"Thou plenitude, thou abundance of [all that is beautiful]1!"

What should it do?  How reconcile itself with the happiness
that [finally comes to know]2 its heart and cheek?
To conceal pain was its element;
now love's wonderment forces it to resound.

[ ... ]

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.
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Translations of title(s):
"O wenn ein Herz, - - -" = "Oh when a heart, - - -"
"Sonett" = "Sonnet"

1 Apostel: "a beauty"
2 Apostel: "comes and knows"


This text was added to the website: 2018-11-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 121

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Der Tod der Geliebten
 (Sung text)
by Hans Erich Apostel (1901 - 1972), "Der Tod der Geliebten", op. 6 (Vier Lieder) no. 2, published 1937 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Universal-Edition, Nr. 10917
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Er wußte nur vom Tod was alle wissen: 
daß er uns nimmt und in das Stumme stößt. 
Als aber sie, nicht von ihm fortgerissen, 
nein, leis aus seinen Augen ausgelöst, 

hinüberglitt zu unbekannten Schatten, 
und als er fühlte, daß sie drüben nun 
wie einen Mond ihr Mädchenlächeln hatten 
und ihre Weise wohlzutun: 

da wurden ihm die Toten so bekannt, 
als wäre er durch sie mit einem jeden 
ganz nah verwandt; er ließ die andern reden 

und glaubte nicht und nannte jenes Land 
das gutgelegene, das immersüße - 
Und tastete es ab für ihre Füße.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. The death of the beloved
Language: English 
Of death he only knew what everyone knows:
that it takes us and knocks us into silence.
But when she, not torn away from him,
no, quietly released from out of his eyes,

glided over to unknown shadows,
and as he felt that those beyond now
possessed her maidenly smile like a moon
and her way of doing good:

at that the dead became so well-known to him,
as if through her he was very closely related
to each one of them; he let the others speak

and did not believe and called yonder land
the well-located, the ever-sweet -
and explored it for her feet [to pass].

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.
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This text was added to the website: 2018-11-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 107

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Lied vom Meer
 (Sung text)

Subtitle: (Capri, piccola marina)

by Hans Erich Apostel (1901 - 1972), "Lied vom Meer", subtitle: "(Capri, piccola marina)", op. 6 (Vier Lieder) no. 3, published 1937 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Universal-Edition, Nr. 10917
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Uraltes Wehn vom Meer,
Meerwind bei Nacht:
  du kommst zu keinem her;
wenn einer wacht,
so muß er sehn, wie er
dich übersteht:
  uraltes Wehn vom Meer,
welches weht
nur wie für Ur-Gestein,
lauter Raum
reißend wie weit herein . . .

O wie fühlt dich ein
treibender Feigenbaum
oben im Mondschein.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
3. Song of the Sea
Language: English 
Ancient wafting from the sea,
sea-wind at night:
  you come to no one;
when someone keeps watch,
he must see to it that
he survives you:
  ancient wafting from the sea,
which blows
only as if for ancient rocks,
tearing hence pure expanses
[from]1 afar. . .

O how a budding fig tree
feels you
above in the moonlight.

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.
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Subtitle: "Capri. Piccola Marina"

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1 Apostel, Paulsen: "as if from"


This text was added to the website: 2018-11-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 60

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
4. Du Dunkelheit, aus der ich stamme
 (Sung text)
by Hans Erich Apostel (1901 - 1972), "Du Dunkelheit, aus der ich stamme", op. 6 (Vier Lieder) no. 4, published 1937 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Universal-Edition, Nr. 10917
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du Dunkelheit, aus der ich stamme,
ich liebe dich mehr als die Flamme,
welche die Welt begrenzt,
indem sie glänzt
für irgend einen Kreis,
aus dem heraus kein Wesen von ihr weiß.

Aber die Dunkelheit hält alles an sich:
Gestalten und Flammen, Tiere und mich,
wie sie's errafft,
Menschen und Mächte. --

Und es kann sein: eine große Kraft
rührt sich in meiner Nachbarschaft.

Ich glaube an Nächte.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
4. Thou darkness whence I originate
Language: English 
Thou darkness whence I originate,
I love thee more than the flame
that circumscribes the world
as it shines
for any a circle,
from out of which no creature knows of it.

But the darkness holds everything to itself:
figures and flames, animals and me,
as it grasps it all for itself,
people and powers. --

And it might well be: a great power
is moving in my neighbourhood.

I believe in nights.

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: 

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Translations of title(s):
"Du Dunkelheit, aus der ich stamme" = "Thou darkness whence I originate"
"Du Dunkelheit" = "Thou darkness"



This text was added to the website: 2018-12-01
Line count: 13
Word count: 72

Translation © by Sharon Krebs