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5 Antique Odes on poems by Sappho
Translations © by John Glenn Paton
Song Cycle by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985)
View original-language texts alone: Fünf antike Oden nach Gedichten von Sappho
Wie hernieder vom Berge Sturmwind stürzt und wühlt in den Eichen, so schüttelt Eros mich wieder, kampflos die Glieder mir lösend. Heimlich kam er zuerst, umfing mich schmeichelnd, ach, und ward dann Bringer so bitterer Wonnen.
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), no title [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
As down from the mountains the storm wind rushes and whirls through the oak trees, thus Eros shakes me again, loosening my limbs without a fight. Secretly he came to me at first and coaxingly embraced me, ah, and then became the bringer of such bitter joys.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by John Glenn Paton, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), no title [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-03
Line count: 8
Word count: 48
Hinunter ist schon der Mond, hinab das Siebengestirn. Mitternacht nun! Stunde um Stunde verrinnt, ach, und ich Arme liege noch einsam. Tau tropft kühl herab aus der dunklen Krone des Baumes; die Blätter rauschen im Nachtwind, von ihnen nieder strömt Schlaf.
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
The moon has already gone down, Pleiades has set. Midnight now! Hour after hour runs by, ah, and I, poor one, still lie alone. Cool dew drops down from the dark crown of the tree; the leaves rustle in the night wind, sleep streams down from them.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by John Glenn Paton, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), no title
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-03
Line count: 10
Word count: 47
Singet, ihr Mädchen, das Lied, das heitere Lied dieses Tags, süßer denn Harfengetön, Gold übergoldendes Gold! Zimmerleut, hebet das Dach, weitet das festliche Haus! Seht, der Bräutigam naht, wie Ares tritt er einher, grüßet ihn! Grüßet die Braut! Zartfüßige, tanzet im Takt, auf schwellender Wiesenflur rings um den lieben Altar; singet das Hochzeitslied, das heitere Lied dieses Tags.
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Sing, you girls, the song, today’s happy song, sweeter than harp tones, gold bathed in gold! Carpenters, raise up the roof, broaden the house for the feast! Look, the bridegroom is coming, he walks in like Ares, greet him! Greet the bride! You with delicate feet, dance in rhythm on the thick lawn around the beloved altar; sing the wedding song, today’s happy song.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by John Glenn Paton, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-03
Line count: 15
Word count: 64
Seelenlos liegt dereinst da, von keinem Gedenken berührt, keinem sehnenden Wunsch zurückgerufen, wer hier nicht gesegnet war vom Rosengeiste der Musen; ruhmlos fliegt er nieder in Hades Haus und irrt mit dem Schwarme der blicklosen Toten blicklos dort unten um. Doch nimmer klingt ein Klagelied zu Recht im Haus, darin die Musen gelten, nicht geziemt uns dies. Um Schönes kreist mein Sinnen stets, unwandelbar. So wird man mein gedenken noch in später Zeit.
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Soon he will lie there, soulless, not stirred by any thought, not called back by any burning wish, he who was not blessed in this life by the rose-spirit of the Muses. Unpraised, he flies down to the realm of Hades and wanders around among the swarm of the sightless dead, also sightless down there. But it is never right to sound out a song of mourning in the house in which the Muses are honored– that is not fitting for us. My thinking is always dwelling on the Beautiful, steadfastly. That is how people will remember me still in distant time.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by John Glenn Paton, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-03
Line count: 13
Word count: 102
Aphrodite! Listreiche Tochter des Zeus! Zu deinem funkelnden Throne fleh ich empor: Nicht schlage mit Qual und Trauer den Sinn mir, o Herrin. Sondern komm eilends, wenn du je erhört mein Gebet aus ferner Tiefe und es erfüllt hast und, das Haus deines Vaters verlassend, mir nahekamst auf goldgeschirrtem Gefährt, das leuchtend jagende Vögel über das dämmernde Land hin mit tausendfältigem Schwirren der Flügel dir zogen, hin durch die strahlende Kuppel des Himmels. Flink sanken sie her. Du aber, Selige, Lächeln über dem wandellos blühenden Antlitz, fragtest mich: was wieder ich litte, was wieder ich nach dir riefe? Was denn so ungestüm mein Herz, das rasende, wiederum wünsche zur Gabe? “Wen denn,” fragtest du, “wen soll ins Netz deiner Liebe überredend wieder ich treiben? Wer hat, o Sappho, dir Unrecht getan? Wisse, wer heute dich flieht, wird bald dich verfolgen– wer heut deine Gaben verschmäht, wird bald die seinen dir spenden– wer jetzt nicht liebt, wird lieben in kurzem, vergeblich sich sträubend.” So sprachst du. – Komm auch jetzt zu mir! Erhell’ mir das umschattete Herz, ende, wie ich’s ersehne, die wirre Mühsal und steh mir im Kampf hilfreich zur Seite –
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
Go to the general single-text view
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Aphrodite! Cunning daughter of Zeus! I send my plea up to your gleaming throne: Do not strike my mind with agony and sorrow, oh Mistress. Rather, come quickly, as always when you heard my prayer coming from the depths and have fulfilled it and, leaving your father’s house, came to me on your golden chariot, which shining birds of prey drew over the twilit land with thousandfold whirring of wings, away through the radiant dome of the heavens. Nimbly they descended toward me. But you, blessed one, with a smile on your unchanging, blooming face, asked me what I was suffering again, why I might again be calling to you? “Whom then,” you asked, “whom then should I forcibly persuade into the net of your love again? Who, oh Sappho, has done you injustice? Understand that the one who flees from you today will soon be chasing after you– that the one who does not love, will love you soon, putting up resistance in vain .” That’s what you said. – Come to me now again! Brighten the shadows on my heart, end, as I so desire, my confused distress, and stand at my side, ready to aid me in battle –
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by John Glenn Paton, (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: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolf Bach (1901 - 1957)
Based on:
- a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE)
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-03
Line count: 29
Word count: 202