Gitanjali - Sangesopfer

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Jonathan Harvey (1939 - 2012)

View original-language texts alone: Song Offerings

1. First song  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
The night is nearly spent 
waiting for him in vain. 
I fear lest in the morning 
he suddenly come to my door 
when I have fallen asleep wearied out. 
Oh friends, leave the way open to him - 
forbid him not.

If the sounds of his steps does not wake me, 
do not try to rouse me, I pray. 
I wish not to be called from my sleep 
by the clamorous choir of birds, 
by the riot of wind at the festival of morning light. 
Let me sleep undisturbed 
even if my lord comes of a sudden to my door.

Ah, my sleep, precious sleep, 
which only waits for his touch to vanish. 
Ah, my closed eyes that would open their lids only 
to the light of his smile when he stands before me 
like a dream emerging from darkness of sleep.

Let him appear before my sight 
as the first of all lights and all forms. 
The first thrill of joy to my awakened soul 
let it come from his glance. 
And let my return to myself 
be immediate return to him.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
1.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vorüber fast die Nacht,
vergeblich war mein Warten.
Ich bange, dass er plötzlich 
tritt durchs Tor, des Morgens,
wenn ermattet ich in tiefen Schlaf gesunken.
O Freunde, haltet ihm die Wege frei -
und wehrt ihm nicht.

Weckt seiner Schritte Klang mich nicht,
dann lasst mich schlafen, drum bitt ich.
Ich will auch nicht 
am lauten Vogelsang erwachen, 
noch von des Windes Ungestüm beim Fest des Morgenlichts.
Lasst ungestört mich schlafen,
selbst wenn mein Herr tritt plötzlich an mein Tor.

Ach Schlaf, mein teurer Schlaf,
der  s e i n e r  Hände harret, um zu enden dann.
Ach meine Augen, die ihr euch nur öffnet 
seines Lächelns Licht, wenn er sich zeigt
gleich einem Traum, der aufsteigt aus des Schlafes Schwärze.

Lasst ihn erscheinen mir
als allen Lichtes erstes Licht, als erste Allgestalt.
Zu schauen ihn, lässt meine Seele beim Erwachen 
sogleich vor Wonne schauern.
Und lasst das Fassen meiner selbst 
zugleich das Fassen seiner sein.

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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This text was added to the website: 2014-06-11
Line count: 25
Word count: 156

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Second song  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
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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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
2.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
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:

Based on:

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2014-06-23
Line count: 14
Word count: 104

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Third song  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. 
Thus it is that thou hast come down to me. 
O thou lord of all heavens, 
where would be thy love if I were not?

Thou hast taken me as thy partner 
of all this wealth. 
In my heart is the endless play of thy delight. 
In my life thy will is ever taking shape.

And for this, thou who art the King of kings 
hast decked thyself in beauty 
to captivate my heart. 
And for this thy love loses itself 
in the love of thy lover, 
and there art thou seen 
in the perfect union of two.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
3.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Darum bin ich so ganz von deiner Freud’ erfüllt.
Darum bist du zu mir herab gestiegen.
O du, der Herre aller Himmel, 
wo wäre deine Liebe denn, wenn ich nicht wär?

Du hast gewählt  m i c h  , 
an der ganzen Fülle teilzuhaben.
In meinem Herzen spielt für alle Zeit dein Wohlgefallen.
In meinem Dasein waltet stets dein Wille.

Und darum zeigst du, König aller Kön’ge,
in Pracht und Schönheit dich,
mein Herz zu fangen.
Darum verliert sich deine Liebe selbst
in des Geliebten Liebe,
und so wirst offenbar du immer dann,
wenn Zwei vollkommen werden eins.

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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This text was added to the website: 2014-06-13
Line count: 15
Word count: 98

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Fourth song  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: English 
O thou the last fulfilment of life, 
Death, my death, come and whisper to me!
Day after day I have kept watch for thee; 
for thee have I borne the joys and pangs of life.
All that I am, that I have, that I hope 
and all my love have ever flowed towards thee 
in depth of secrecy. 
One final glance from thine eyes 
and my life will be ever thine own.
The flowers have been woven and the garland 
is ready for the bridegroom. 
After the wedding the bride shall leave her home
and meet her lord alone 
in the solitude of night.

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by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
4.
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O du, des Lebens letzte Stillung,
komm, Tod, mein Tod, und flüstere mir zu!
Tagaus, tagein schau ich schon aus nach dir;
für dich hab ich des Lebens Glück und Schmerz ertragen.
All was ich bin, ich hab, ich hoff, all meine Lieb
ist dir schon immer zugeströmt,
tief und geheimnisvoll.
Ein letzter, flücht’ger Blick aus deinen Augen
dann wird für immer dein mein Leben sein.
Die Blumen sind geflochten,
der Kranz dem Bräutigam bereit.
Nach der Vermählung wird die Braut ihr Heim verlassen,
allein zu treffen ihren Herrn 
in nächt’ger Einsamkeit.

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:

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This text was added to the website: 2014-04-16
Line count: 14
Word count: 92

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann