English translations of Drei Gesänge nach Texten von Friedrich Hölderlin, opus 56

by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985)

1. An die Parzen
 (Sung text)
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "An die Parzen", op. 56 (Drei Gesänge nach Texten von Friedrich Hölderlin) no. 1, published 1944
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nur einen Sommer gönnt, ihr Gewaltigen!
  Und einen Herbst zu reifem Gesange mir,
    Daß williger mein Herz, vom süßen
      Spiel gesättiget, dann mir sterbe!

Die Seele, der im Leben ihr göttlich Recht
  Nicht ward, sie ruht auch drunten im Orkus nicht;
    Doch ist mir einst das Heilge, das am
      Herzen mir liegt, das Gedicht gelungen:

Willkommen dann, o Stille der Schattenwelt!
  Zufrieden bin ich, wenn auch mein Saitenspiel
    Mich nicht hinabgeleitet; einmal
      Lebt ich, wie Götter, und mehr bedarfs nicht.

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by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
1. To the Fates
Language: English 
 Grant just one summer, you powerful ones!
 And one autumn for ripe songs,
 so that my heart might be more willing, 
 satisfied with sweet playing, to die.

 My soul, which in life, did not realize its divine right,
 will not rest in Orcus;
 but if once the sacred thing that
 lies closest to my heart - my poetry - succeeds,

 then I will welcome the silence of the world of shadows!
 I will be content, even if my lyre
 does not come with me; for once
 I lived like the gods - and I require no more.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 95

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Hälfte des Lebens  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Hälfte des Lebens", op. 56 (Drei Gesänge nach Texten von Friedrich Hölderlin) no. 2, published 1944
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit gelben Birnen hänget
Und voll mit wilden Rosen
Das Land in den See,
Ihr holden Schwäne,
Und trunken von Küssen
[Tunkt]1 [ihr das Haupt
Ins heilignüchterne Wasser.]2

Weh mir, wo nehm' ich, wenn
Es Winter ist, die Blumen, und wo
Den Sonnenschein,
Und Schatten der Erde?
Die Mauern [stehn]3
Sprachlos und kalt, im Winde
Klirren die Fahnen.

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1 Müller: "Taucht"; omitted by Ligeti
2 omitted by Ligeti
3 Cerha: "stehen"

by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
2. The middle of life
Language: English 
With yellow pears
and full of wild roses,
the land hangs over the lake,
you fair swans,
and drunk with kisses
you dunk your heads
into the sacred, sober water.

Woe is me! where, when 
it is winter, will I get flowers, 
and where the sunshine,
and the shade of the earth?
The walls stand
mute and cold; in the wind
the weathervanes rattle.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 64

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Abendphantasie  [sung text not yet checked]
by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Abendphantasie", op. 56 (Drei Gesänge nach Texten von Friedrich Hölderlin) no. 3, published 1944
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vor seiner Hütte ruhig im Schatten sitzt
Der Pflüger, dem Genügsamen raucht sein Herd.
Gastfreundlich tönt dem Wanderer im
Friedlichen Dorfe die Abendglocke.

Wohl kehren [jetzt]1 die Schiffer zum Hafen auch,
In fernen Städten fröhlich verrauscht des Markts
[Geschäftiger]2 Lärm; in stiller Laube
Glänzt das gesellige Mahl den Freunden.

Wohin denn ich? Es leben die Sterblichen
Von Lohn und Arbeit; wechselnd in Müh und Ruh
Ist alles freudig; warum schläft denn
Nimmer nur mir in der Brust der Stachel?

Am Abendhimmel blühet ein Frühling auf;
Unzählig blühen die Rosen, und ruhig scheint
Die goldene Welt; o dorthin nehmt mich,
Purpurne Wolken! und möge droben

In Licht und Luft zerrinnen mir Lieb und Leid'!
Doch, wie verscheucht von törichter Bitte, flieht
Der Zauber; dunkel wird's und einsam
[ Unter dem Himmel, wie immer, bin ich - ]3

Komm du nun, sanfter Schlummer! zu viel begehrt
Das Herz; doch endlich Jugend! verglühst du ja,
Du ruhelose, träumerische!
Friedlich und heiter ist dann das Alter.

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1 in some editions of Hölderlin: "izt"
2 Greif: "Geschäft'ger"
3 omitted by Ligeti.

by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843)
3. Evening fantasy
Language: English 
Before his cottage, in the shade, 
the contented ploughman sits, his hearth smoking.
The welcoming evening bells greet a traveler
into the peaceful village.
 
Now the boatmen turn too toward the harbor,
and in far-off towns the merry noise and bustle of the marketplace
die down; in the quiet grove
glitters a comradely meal for the friends.
 
Where then shall I go? Do not mortals live
by wages and work? alternating labor with rest
makes everything well; why then will
the sting of this thorn in my breast never sleep?
 
Up in the evening sky a token of Spring blossoms;
infinite roses blossom and the golden world seems
at peace; o take me there,
purple clouds! and up there
 
into light and air may my love and grief melt away!
But, as if my silly plea had scared it away,
the magic flees; it grows dark. Alone
beneath the sky I stand, as always.
 
Come now, mild slumber! too much does the heart demand;
but finally, youth will burn itself out,
you restless, dreamy thing!
and my old age will be peaceful and serene.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

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Translated titles
"Abendphantasie" = "Evening fantasy"
"Am Abendhimmel blühet ein Frühling auf" = "Up in the evening sky a token of Spring blossoms"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 184

Translation © by Emily Ezust