Sieben Lieder für Sopran und Streichquartett

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Adolf Weiss (1891 - 1971)

View original-language texts alone: Seven Songs for Soprano and String Quartet

1. Poets  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I reckon - when I count at all -
First Poets - then the Sun -
Then Summer - then the
Heaven of God -
And then - the list is done -

But - looking back - the first so seems
To comprehend the whole -
The others look a needless show -
So I write - Poets - All.

This summer lasts a solid year -
They can afford a Sun
The East would deem
Extravagant -
And if the final Heaven -

Be Beautiful as they disclose
To those who trust in them,
It is too difficult a Grace -
To justify the dream.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
1. Dichter
Language: German (Deutsch) 
An erster Stelle steht für mich
der Dichter, dann die Sonn,
dann Sommer, dann das Paradies
und dann: - das war’s auch schon.

Die Dichter weisen, scheint es mir,
bereits das Ganze auf,
drum führ ich sie alleinig hier
in meiner Liste auf:

Ihr Sommer währt ein starkes Jahr,
und ihre Sonne nimmt
selbst sie als überschwänglich wahr.
Wär’s letzte Paradies

so schön, wie sie eröffnen dies
allen, die ihnen traun,
dann wär’s der Gnad und Gunst zuviel,
dies einst einmal zu schaun.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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

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Translation of title "Poets" = "Dichter"


This text was added to the website: 2017-09-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 82

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. A cemetery  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
This quiet Dust was Gentlemen and Ladies,
And Lads and Girls;
Was laughter and ability and sighing,
And frocks and curls.

This passive place a Summer's nimble mansion,
Where Bloom and Bees
Fulfilled their Oriental Circuit,
Then ceased like these.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
2. Ein Friedhof
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ein stiller Staub  - einst waren’s Männer, Frauen,
Burschen, Maiden;
Begabte waren’s, Lachen war’s und Seufzen,
und Locken, Kleider.

Ein Ruheplatz -  wo hurtig haust ein Sommer,
wo Blüt und Bien
voll Schwung den Lebenskreis durchziehn - dann
ruhn, wie diese.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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

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Translation of title "A cemetery" = "Ein Friedhof"


This text was added to the website: 2017-09-22
Line count: 8
Word count: 38

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. The railway train  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I like to see it lap the miles,
And lick the valleys up,
And stop to feed itself at tanks;
And then, prodigious, step

Around a pile of mountains,
And, supercilious, peer
In shanties by the sides of roads;
And then a quarry pare

To fit its [sides]1, and crawl between,
Complaining all the while
In horrid, hooting stanza;
Then chase itself down hill

And neigh like Boanerges;
Then, punctual as a star,
Stop - docile and omnipotent -
At its own stable door.

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1 Getty, Perle: "ribs"

by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
3. Die Eisenbahn
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gern seh ich, wie sie Meilen frisst
und leckt die Täler auf
und hält an Tanks, Wasser zu ziehn;
hernach - gewalt’ger Schritt

umfährt sie Berg und Hügel,
hochnäsig blickt sie dann
in Hütten längs der Bahn,
gräbt sich drauf in den Fels,

so breit sie ist, und kriecht hindurch,
klagt schon die ganze Zeit
ihr gräulich heulend Lied;
dann donnert sie bergab

wiehert wie Boanerges*;
dann, pünktlich wie ein Stern
hält sie, fügsam, allmächtig,
an ihrem Schuppen dann.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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

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Translation of title "The railway train" = "Die Eisenbahn"
* Mk 3, 17

This text was added to the website: 2017-09-22
Line count: 16
Word count: 79

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Chartless  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
4. Unkartiert
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich sah noch nie ein Moor,
sah auch das Meer noch nie,
doch weiß ich von der Heide Flor
und von der Wogen Spiel.

Ich sprach noch nie mit Gott, 
war nie bei ihm zu Gast;
doch bin ich mir des Orts gewiss, 
als wäre er erfasst.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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

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Based on:

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Translation of title "Chartless" = "Unkartiert"


This text was added to the website: 2017-05-21
Line count: 8
Word count: 47

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
5. Mysteries  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
The murmur of a bee
A witchcraft yieldeth me.
If any ask me why,
'T were easier to die
Than tell.

The red upon the hill
Taketh away my will;
If anybody sneer,
Take care, for God is here,
That's all.

The breaking of the day
Addeth to my degree;
If any ask me how,
Artist, who drew me so,
Must tell!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
5. Geheimnisse
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Einer Biene Gesumm
verleiht mir Zauberkunst.
Fragt jemand mich, warum,
dann käm ich eher um -
als dass ich’s sag!

Am Berg das Abendrot -
es macht mich willenlos;
wer spöttisch dies belacht -
auch hier ist Gott - gib acht,
das war's.

Der neue Tag bricht an
erhöht mir Stand und Rang;
fragt wer, wie’s funktioniert -
der mich so hat kreiert -
sag er’s!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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

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Based on:

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Translation of title "Mysteries" = "Geheimnisse"


This text was added to the website: 2017-09-22
Line count: 15
Word count: 60

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
6. Elysium  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Elysium is as far as to
The very nearest room,
If in that room a friend await
Felicity or doom.

What fortitude the soul contains,
That it can so endure
The accent of a coming foot,
The opening of a door!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
6. Elysium
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Elysium liegt so weit entfernt
wie bis zur nächsten Kammer,
wenn dort ein Freund ist, harrt auf dich
Glück oder Erdenjammer.

Welch Stärke doch die Seele birgt,
dass sie's deshalb durchsteht,
wenn sich bekannte Schritte nahn,
und wenn die Tür aufgeht.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2017 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

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Based on:

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Translation of title "Elysium" = "Elysium"


This text was added to the website: 2017-09-22
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
7. I taste a liquor  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I taste a liquor never brewed,
From tankards scooped in pearl;
Not all the vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an alcohol!

Inebriate of air am I,
And debauchee of dew,
Reeling, through endless summer days,
From inns of molten blue.

When landlords turn the drunken bee
Out of the foxglove's door,
When butterflies renounce their drams,
I shall but drink the more!

Till seraphs swing their snowy hats,
And saints to windows run,
To see the little tippler
Leaning against the sun!

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by Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)
7. Ich kost’ Likör
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ich kost’ Likör, der nie gebraut,
aus perlengroßem Krug,
nicht jedes Fass mit Wein vom Rhein
solch einen Trank je trug.

Betrunken von der Luft bin ich,
bade im Morgentau,
taumle endlose Sommer lang
durch Schenken ganz aus Blau.

Und wirft der Wirt die trunk’ne Bien’
aus seinem „Fingerhut“,
und Falter meiden weitren Trunk -
mir ist’s nach mehr zumut!

Bis Seraph schwenkt den weißen Hut,
und zu den Fenstern rennt
die heil’ge Schar, mich „blau“ zu sehn
gegen die Sonn’ gelehnt.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2016 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:

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Translation of title "I taste a liquor" = "Ich kost’ Likör"


This text was added to the website: 2016-05-04
Line count: 16
Word count: 81

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann