German (Deutsch) translation of A Song of Light

by Laura Farnell (b. 1975), "A Song of Light", copyright © 2017 [ satb chorus and piano ], JEHMS
    Publisher: Alliance Music Publication [external link]

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Light, my light, the world-filling light,
the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!

Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life;
the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love;
the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light.
Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling,
and it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling,
and gladness without measure. 
The heaven's river has drowned its banks 
and the flood of joy is abroad.

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Researcher for this page: Geoffrey Wieting 
I know not how thou singest, my master! 
I ever listen in silent amazement.

The light of thy music illumines the world. 
The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky. 
The holy stream of thy music breaks 
through all stony obstacles and rushes on.

My heart longs to join in thy song, 
but vainly struggles for a voice. 
I would speak, but speech breaks not into song, 
and I cry out baffled. 
Ah, thou hast made my heart captive 
in the endless meshes of thy music, my master!

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
Licht, mein Licht, das alle Welt erfüllt,
das Auge küsst und Süße gießt ins Herz!

Das Licht, mein Liebster, tanzt im Herzstück meines Lebens;
es bringt hervor den Wohlklang meiner Liebe;
der Himmel tut sich auf, der Wind hat freien Lauf,
und über Welt und Erde geht ein Lachen.

Die Falter hissen ihre Segel auf einem Meer aus Licht.
Jasmin und Lilien wogen auf seinem Wellenkamm.

Das Licht bricht golden sich an jeder Wolk’
und streut Juwelen aus verschwenderisch.

Mein Liebster, Frohsinn springt von Blatt zu Blatt
und Freude ohne Maßen.
Und überflutet hat der Strom des Himmels seine Ufer,
hat ausgesandt die Freudenflut.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

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Ich weiß nicht, wie du singest, mein Gebieter!
Ich lausch’ dir immerfort in stummem Staunen.

Denn deiner Klänge Licht erhellt die Welt
und deiner Klänge Lebensodem flutet durch die Himmel.
Der heil’ge Strom deiner Musik durchdringt
selbst Stein, ergießt sich fort und fort.

Mein Herz will sehnend in dein Lied einstimmen,
vergebens ringt es aber um den Ton.
Gern würd' ich sprechen, doch mein Wort wird nicht zum Lied,
und ratlos heul ich auf.
Ach, du hast mein Herz gefangen, mein Gebieter,
und eingewoben in den Kosmos Deines Sangs!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2014 by Bertram Kottmann, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.

    Bertram Kottmann.  Contact: BKottmann (AT) t-online.de

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


Translation © by Bertram Kottmann