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Rosary songs
Translations © by Bertram Kottmann
Song Cycle by Oliver Knussen, CBE (1952 - 2018)
View original-language texts alone: Rosenkranz Lieder
Wo Du gehst, wird Herbst und Abend. Blaues Wild, das unter Bäumen tönt. Einsamer Weiher am Abend. Leise der Flug der Vögel tönt, Die Schwermut über Deinen Augenbogen. Dein schmales Lächeln tönt. Gott hat Deine Lider verbogen. Sterne suchen nachts, Karfreitagskind, Deinen Stirnenbogen.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "An die Schwester", appears in Rosenkranzlieder, no. 1
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Where you walk turns into autumn and eve, blue deer, that sounds under trees. Lonely pond in the eve. Softly the flight of the birds sounds, the sadness over the arches of your eyes. Your small smile sounds. God has bent your lids. Stars seek at night, Good Friday’s child, the arch of your brow.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "An die Schwester", appears in Rosenkranzlieder, no. 1
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-09-07
Line count: 9
Word count: 55
O der Abend, der in die finsteren Dörfer der Kindheit geht. Der Weiher unter den Weiden Füllt sich mit den verpesteten Seufzern der Schwermut. O der Wald, der leise die braunen Augen senkt, Da aus des Einsamen knöchernen Händen Der Purpur seiner verzückten Tage hinsinkt. O die Nähe des Todes. Laß uns beten. In dieser Nacht lösen auf lauen Kissen Vergilbt von Weihrauch sich der Liebenden schmächtige Glieder.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Nähe des Todes", appears in Rosenkranzlieder, no. 2, 2nd version
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O the evening that walks into the gloomy villages of childhood. The pond under the willows fills up with the tainted sighs of gloom. O the forest that softly lowers its brown gaze, when from the lonely one's bony hands the purple of his entranced days sinks. O the nearness of death. Let us pray. During this night on balmy pillows, yellowed by incense, the slender limbs of the lovers slacken.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Nähe des Todes", appears in Rosenkranzlieder, no. 2, 2nd version
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-09-07
Line count: 9
Word count: 71
Verwestes gleitend durch die morsche Stube; Schatten an gelben Tapeten; in dunklen Spiegeln wölbt Sich unserer Hände elfenbeinerne Traurigkeit. Braune Perlen rinnen durch die erstorbenen Finger. In der Stille Tun sich eines Engels blaue Mohnaugen auf. Blau ist auch der Abend; Die Stunde unseres Absterbens, Azraels Schatten, Der ein braunes Gärtchen verdunkelt.
Text Authorship:
- by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Amen", appears in Rosenkranzlieder, no. 3
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Decayed gliding through the derelict room; shadows on yellow wallpapers; in dark mirrors the ivory sadness of our hands arches. Brown beads run through the withered fingers. In the stillness the blue poppy-eyes of an angel open. Blue the evening, too; the hour of our dying, Azrael's shadow, that darkens a brown, little garden.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "Amen", appears in Rosenkranzlieder, no. 3
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2017-09-07
Line count: 9
Word count: 54