English translations of Drei Gesänge, opus 6

by Max Jobst (1908 - 1943)

1. Liebeslied  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Jobst (1908 - 1943), "Liebeslied", op. 6 (Drei Gesänge) no. 1 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wie soll ich meine Seele halten, daß
sie nicht an deine rührt? Wie soll ich sie
hinheben über dich zu andern Dingen?
Ach gerne möcht ich sie bei irgendwas
Verlorenem im Dunkel unterbringen
an einer fremden stillen Stelle, die
nicht weiterschwingt, wenn deine Tiefen schwingen.

Doch alles, was uns anrührt, dich und mich,
nimmt uns zusammen wie ein Bogenstrich,
der aus zwei Saiten eine Stimme zieht.
Auf welches Instrument sind wir gespannt?
Und welcher [Geiger]1 hat uns in der Hand?
O süßes Lied.

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1 Martinsson: "Spieler"

by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
1. Love song
Language: English 
How shall I hold my soul, that
It does not touch on yours?  How shall I lift it
Beyond you to other things?
Ah, gladly would I shelter it with something
Lost in the dark.
At a strange quiet place which
Does not co-vibrate when your depths resonate.

But everything that touches us, you and me,
Takes us togther like one draw of a bow
Which pulls one voice from two strings.
On which instrument are we strung?
And what player has us in his hand?
O sweet song.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2008 by Elisabeth Siekhaus, (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: 2008-04-04
Line count: 13
Word count: 89

Translation © by Elisabeth Siekhaus
2. Lied vom Meer  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Jobst (1908 - 1943), "Lied vom Meer", op. 6 (Drei Gesänge) no. 2 [ voice and piano ]
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]1 Ur-Gestein,
lauter Raum
reißend [von]2 weit herein . . .

O wie fühlt dich ein
treibender Feigenbaum
oben im Mondschein.

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Confirmed with Rainer Maria Rilke, Die Gedichte, Frankfurt am Main: Insel Verlag, 1997, pages 546-547.

1 Jarnach: "wie nur für"; Zinsstag: "nur für die"
2 Apostel, Paulsen: "wie"

by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
2. 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: 59

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
3. Der Tod ist gross  [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Jobst (1908 - 1943), "Der Tod ist gross", op. 6 (Drei Gesänge) no. 3 [ voice and piano ]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der Tod ist groß. 
Wir sind die Seinen
lachenden Munds. 
Wenn wir uns mitten im Leben meinen,
wagt er zu weinen
mitten in uns.

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
3. Conclusion
Language: English 
Death is great.
We belong to her
with laughing mouths.
When we believe ourselves to be in the midst of our lives,
she dares to cry
inside us.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by Salvador Pila, (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: 2011-05-22
Line count: 6
Word count: 28

Translation © by Salvador Pila