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Four songs for baritone or bass with piano after poems by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer
Translations © by Emily Ezust
Song Cycle by Hans Erich Pfitzner (1869 - 1949)
View original-language texts alone: Vier Lieder für Bariton oder Bass mit Klavier nach Gedichten von Conrad Ferdinand Meyer
Es geht mit mir zu Ende, Mein' Sach' und Spruch ist schon Hoch über Menschenhände Gerückt vor Gottes Thron, Schon schwebt auf einer Wolke, Umringt von seinem Volke Entgegen mir des Menschen Sohn. Den Kerker will ich preisen, Der Kerker, der ist gut! Das Fensterkreuz von Eisen Blickt auf die frische Flut, Und zwischen seinen Stäben Seh' ich ein Segel schweben, Darob im Blaue die Firne ruht. Wie nah die Flut ich fühle, Als läg' ich drein versenkt, Mit wundersamer Kühle Wird mir der Leib getränkt -- Auch seh' ich eine Traube Mit einem roten Laube, Die tief herab ins Fenster hängt. Es ist die Zeit zu feiern! Es kommt die große Ruh! Dort lenkt ein Zug von Reihern Dem ew'gen Lenze zu. Sie wissen Pfad und Stege, Sie kennen ihre Wege -- Was, meine Seele, fürchtest du?
Text Authorship:
- by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Hussens Kerker"
See other settings of this text.
Note: Jan Hus (1370(?) - 1415) was burnt in Konstanz as a heretic.
Note for stanza 2, line 7, word 5: Schibler has "Ferne" in his score, but this is probably a typo.
My end draws near, my case and the verdict are now out of the hands of man and before the throne of God. Already borne by the clouds, surrounded by his Host, the Son of Man stands before me. This dungeon I will praise, the dungeon - it is good! The windowbars, a cross of iron, looks out upon the fresh waters, and between its bars I can see a sail hovering. Above in the blue, the snow rests. How near I feel the water, as if I lay submerged therein, with wondrous cool would my body be steeped - I also see a bunch of grapes with red leaves hanging in from the window. It is time to rejoice! A great peace draws near! A flock of herons there turns toward eternal Spring. They know paths and bridges, they know their way - what, my soul, do you fear?
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Hussens Kerker"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 147
Bemeßt den Schritt! Bemeßt den Schwung! Die Erde bleibt noch lange jung! Dort fällt ein Korn, das stirbt und ruht. Die Ruh ist süß. Es hat es gut. Hier eins, das durch die Scholle bricht, Es hat es gut. Süß ist das Licht. Und keines fällt aus dieser Welt Und jedes fällt, wie's Gott gefällt.
Text Authorship:
- by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Säerspruch"
See other settings of this text.
Measure your stride! Measure your sweep! The earth will remain young for a long time yet! There a grain falls, dead and at rest. Rest is sweet and good for it. Here is one that has broken through the earth. It is good for it. Sweet is the light. And not one falls from this world; and each one falls as God desires.
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Säerspruch"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 63
Meine eingelegten Ruder triefen, Tropfen fallen langsam in die Tiefen. Nichts, daß mich verdroß! Nichts, daß mich freute! Niederrinnt ein schmerzenloses Heute! Unter mir - ach, aus dem Licht verschwunden - Träumen schon die schönern meiner Stunden. Aus der blauen Tiefe ruft das Gestern: Sind im Licht noch manche meiner Schwestern?
Text Authorship:
- by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Eingelegte Ruder"
See other settings of this text.
My soaking oars drip; drops fall slowly into the depths. There was nothing to irritate me! There was nothing to delight me! A painless Today is running down. Below me - alas! vanished from the light - the fairest of my hours already dream. From the blue depths, Yesterday calls: "Are my many sisters still in the light?"
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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Eingelegte Ruder"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 9
Word count: 56
Geh' nicht, die Gott für mich erschuf! Laß scharren deiner Rosse Huf Den Reiseruf! Du willst von meinem Herde fliehn? Und weißt ja nicht, wohin, wohin Dich deine Rosse ziehn! Die Stunde rinnt! Das Leben jagt! Wir haben uns noch nichts gesagt Bleib bis es tagt! Du darfst aus meinen Armen fliehn? Und weißt ja nicht, wohin, wohin Dich deine Rosse ziehn...
Text Authorship:
- by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Laß scharren deiner Rosse Huf!"
See other settings of this text.
Do not go, you whom God created for me! Let the hooves of your horses scratch the ground At the call to journey! You would flee my hearth? Not even knowing where, oh where Your horses will take you! The hours are flying! Life is dashing past! We have said nothing yet to each other -- Stay, until dawn! You must flee from my arms? Not even knowing where, oh where Your horses will take you...
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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 ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825 - 1898), "Laß scharren deiner Rosse Huf!"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2016-08-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 75