Tagore Lieder

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Ralph D'Mello (b. 195?)

View original-language texts alone: Tagore Songs

1. Gitanjali  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
I am here to sing thee songs.
In this hall of thine I have a corner seat.

In thy world I have no work to do;
My useless life can only break out 
in tunes without a purpose.

When the hour strikes for thy silent worship
at the dark temple of midnight,
command me, my master, 
to stand before thee to sing.

When in the morning air,
the golden harp is tuned,
honour me, commanding my presence.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
1.
[Translation not yet available]

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

2. Fireflies 
Memory, the priestess,
kills the present
and offers its heart to the shrine of the dead past.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
The soil in return for her service
keeps the tree tied to her,
the sky asks nothing and leaves it free.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
2. 
Erinnerung, die Priesterin,
die Gegenwart dem Tode weiht
und deren Herz darbringt auf dem Altar toter Vergangenheit.

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

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Als Dank für ihre Dienste 
bindet die Erde den Baum an sich.
Der Himmel verlangt nichts und lässt ihn frei.

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

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Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. The gardener  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Then finish the last song 
and let us leave.
Forget this night when the night is no more.
Whom do I try to clasp in my arms?  
Dreams can never be made captive.
My eager hands press emptiness 
to my heart and it bruises my breast.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sing denn das letzte Lied zu Ende
und lasst uns gehen.
Vergiss die Nacht, wenn keine Nacht mehr ist.
Wen suche ich mit meinen Armen zu umfangen?
Nie lassen Träume sich festhalten.
Meine Hände drücken sehnlich Leere mir ans Herz,
und es zersprengt mir fast die Brust.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to German (Deutsch) copyright © 2015 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:

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This text was added to the website: 2015-06-28
Line count: 7
Word count: 47

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann