English translations of Vier Gesänge, opus 8

by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942)

1. Turmwächterlied
 (Sung text)
by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Turmwächterlied", op. 8 (Vier Gesänge) no. 1 (1900?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nacht ist es jetzt,
Und das Gestirn, das Gott gesetzt
Als Grenze (eh die Zeit noch war)
Zwischen des Lichtes klarem See
Und der Finsternisse Meer,
Die Sonne wich von ihrem Ort -
Doch bald erstrahlt sie wieder,
So hoffen wir in Demut.

Ihr Leut' in Burg und Feste,
Ihr, die ihr auf den Straßen ziehet,
Und ihr auf salzigem Meer,
Ihr alle solltet beten,
Eh des Tages Ringen
Oberhand gewinnt.
Und wendet die Gedanken
Ab von Haus und Heim
Und laßt sie aus den Herzen
Ziehen himmelwärts.
Denn der Herr ist gut und barmherzig
Jetzt und ewiglich.

Herr, nun kommen sie alle,
Gut und Böse,
Sieche und Heile,
Mit Ruf und Rede,
Seufzend im heiligen
Zeichen des Kreuzes.
Höre sie alle in deiner Gnade,
Gewähre ihnen nach deinem Willen.
Laß sie christlich beten.

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by Robert Franz Arnold (1872 - 1938)
1. The tower watchman's song
Language: English 
 It is night now,
 and there is the star that God has set
 as a boundary (before time yet existed)
 between the clear sea of light
 and the ocean of darkness;
 The sun has moved away from its place -
 but soon it will shine again,
 so we humbly hope.
 
 You people in castles and strongholds,
 You who move about the streets,
 and you on the salty ocean -
 you should all pray
 before the struggle of the day
 wins the upper hand.
 And turn your thoughts
 from house and home
 and let them from your hearts
 fly heavenwards.
 For the Lord is good and merciful
 now and forevermore.
 
 Lord, now they are all coming -
 the good and the bad,
 the ill and the healthy,
 with calls and speech,
 sighing at the sacred
 sign of the cross.
 Listen to them all in your grace,
 grant them their wishes according to your will.
 Grand them Christian prayer.

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: 2003-11-21
Line count: 29
Word count: 155

Translation © by Emily Ezust
2. Und hat der Tag all seine Qual
 (Sung text)
by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Und hat der Tag all seine Qual", op. 8 (Vier Gesänge) no. 2 (1900?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Und hat der Tag all seine Qual
Tautränend ausgeweint,
Dann öffnet Nacht den Himmelssaal
In ewigen Trübsinns stiller Qual.
Und eins und eins
Und zwei und zwei
Zieht fremder Welten Genienchor
Aus dunklem Himmelsgrund hervor,
Und über irdischen Lüsten und Schmerzen,
In Händen hoch die Sternenkerzen,
Schreiten sie langsam über den Himmel hin.
Tieftraurig gehen sie,
Treu dem Gebot . . .
Verwunderlich wehen,
Von des Weltraums kalten Winden bedroht,
Der Sternenkerzen flackernde Flammen.

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by Robert Franz Arnold (1872 - 1938)
2. And once all the miseries of the day
Language: English 
 And once all the miseries of the day
 have been wept away in dewy tears,
 then Night opens the hall of Heaven
 in the eternal gloom's quiet misery.
 And one by one
 and two by two
 spirit-choirs of distant worlds
 rise up from the dark floor of the sky,
 and over earthly joys and sorrows,
 holding star-candles high in their hands,
 they slowly stride across the sky.
 Deep in sorrow do they go,
 true to their orders;
 and with astonishment,
 threatened by the cold winds of the world,
 the flickering flames of the star-candles sigh.

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: 2003-11-21
Line count: 16
Word count: 96

Translation © by Emily Ezust
3. Mit Trommeln und Pfeifen
 (Sung text)
by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Mit Trommeln und Pfeifen", op. 8 (Vier Gesänge) no. 3 (1900?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mit Trommeln und Pfeifen bin ich oft marschiert,
Neben Trommeln und Pfeifen hab' ich oft präsentiert,
Vor Trommeln und Pfeifen bin ich oft avanciert
In den Feind, hurra!

Die Trommeln und Pfeifen, die hör' ich nicht mehr,
Und Trommeln und Pfeifen, rückten sie her,
Hinter Trommeln und Pfeifen hinkte zu schwer
Mein Stelzfuß, o weh!

Wenn Trommeln und Pfeifen mir kämen in Sicht,
Gegen Trommeln und Pfeifen mein Ohr hielt' ich dicht,
Die Trommeln und Pfeifen ertrüg' ich nicht,
Mir bräche das Herz.

Und Trommeln und Pfeifen, das war mein Klang,
Und Trommeln und Pfeifen, Soldatengesang,
Ihr Trommeln und Pfeifen, mein Leben lang
Hoch Kaiser und Heer!

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by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
3. With drums and fifes
Language: English 
With drums and fifes I have often marched,
beside drums and fifes I have often presented arms.
Before drums and fifes I have often advanced
toward the enemy - hurrah!

The drums and fifes - I hear them no longer,
and if the drums and fifes moved closer,
behind the drums and fifes would hobble too heavily
my wooden leg, o woe!

If drums and fifes came into my sight,
I would stop my ears against those drums and fifes,
for drums and fifes I cannot endure -
they would break my heart.

Drums and fifes, they were my sound -
drums and fifes, a soldier's song;
You drums and fifes, my whole life long,
cheer for Emperor and Army!

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: 16
Word count: 116

Translation © by Emily Ezust
4. Tod in Ähren
 (Sung text)
by Alexander Zemlinsky (1871 - 1942), "Tod in Ähren", op. 8 (Vier Gesänge) no. 4 (1900?)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Im Weizenfeld, im Korn und Mohn,
Liegt ein Soldat, unaufgefunden,
Zwei Tage schon, zwei Nächte schon,
Mit schweren Wunden, unverbunden.

Durstüberquält und fieberwild,
Im Todeskampf sein brechend Auge schlägt nach oben.
Ein letzter Traum, ein letztes Bild,
Sein brechend Auge schlägt nach oben.

Die Sense rauscht im Ährenfeld,
Er sieht sein Dorf im Arbeitsfrieden,
Ade, ade, du Heimatwelt -
Und beugt das Haupt und ist verschieden.

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by Detlev von Liliencron (1844 - 1909)
4. Death among the corn
Language: English 
In the wheatfield, among corn and poppies,
lies a soldier, undiscovered
now for two days already, and two nights;
with heavy wounds, unbound.
 
Tormented by thirst and wild with fever,
in the throes of death, [he lifts his head]1.
A last dream, a last image,
he rolls his breaking eyes upwards.
 
The scythe whispers in the cornfield,
he sees his village in peaceful toil,
adieu, adieu, you world of home -
and bows his head and departs.

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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1 Zemlinsky: "he rolls his breaking eyes upwards"


This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 78

Translation © by Emily Ezust