4 Songs on Georg Trakl Poems

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Josef Schelb (1894 - 1977)

View original-language texts alone: 4 Gesänge nach Texten von Georg Trakl

1. Verklärter Herbst
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Gewaltig endet so das Jahr
Mit goldnem Wein und Frucht der Gärten.
Rund schweigen Wälder wunderbar
Und sind des Einsamen Gefährten.

Da sagt der Landmann: Es ist gut.
Ihr Abendglocken lang und leise
Gebt noch zum Ende frohen Mut.
Ein Vogelzug grüßt auf der Reise.

Es ist der Liebe milde Zeit.
Im Kahn den blauen Fluß hinunter
Wie schön sich Bild an Bildchen reiht -
Das geht in Ruh und Schweigen unter.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1. Idyllized Autumn
Language: English 
With grandeur, such the year’s course ends
with golden wine and fruit from gardens.
Like magic, woods around keep still
and are the lonesome one’s companions. 

The countryman then says: It’s good. 
You evening bells ring long and quiet 
to give glad courage to the end. 
A flock of birds greets on the journey. 

It is the gentle time of love. 
In boats downstream the bluey river: 
How nicely scene to scene is strung - 
and then is drowned by rest and silence.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 82

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Ein Winterabend
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wenn der Schnee ans Fenster fällt,
Lang die Abendglocke läutet,
Vielen ist der Tisch bereitet
Und das Haus ist wohl bestellt.

Mancher auf der Wanderschaft
Kommt ans Tor auf dunklen Pfaden.
Golden blüht der Baum der Gnaden
Aus der Erde kühlem Saft.

Wanderer tritt still herein;
Schmerz versteinerte die Schwelle.
Da erglänzt in reiner Helle
Auf dem Tische Brot und Wein.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
2. A winter evening
Language: English 
When the snow falls ’gainst the panes, 
long the evening bell is ringing, 
many find a well-laid table 
and their matters well arranged. 

Many a man who roams about
finds the gate on murky pathways. 
Golden blooms the tree of mercy
from the cool sap of the earth. 

Wanderer, step in, be still; 
Pain has petrified the threshold. 
There are - chaste in radiance gleaming -
on the table bread and wine.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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

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Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 71

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Im Frühling
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Leise sank von dunklen Schritten der Schnee,
Im Schatten des Baums
Heben die rosigen Lider Liebende.

Immer folgt den dunklen Rufen der Schiffer
Stern und Nacht;
Und die Ruder schlagen leise im Takt.

Balde an verfallener Mauer blühen
Die Veilchen
Ergrünt so stille die Schläfe des Einsamen.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3. In Spring
Language: English 
Softly the snow was sinking from dark steps,
in the tree’s shadow
lovers raise their rosy eyelids. 

Ever star and night
follow the boatmen’s dark calls;
and the oars beat quietly keeping time. 

Soon by the dilapidated wall
violets blossom,
so silently the lonely one’s temple turns green.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English 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

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This text was added to the website: 2016-06-20
Line count: 9
Word count: 48

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. Sommersneige
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Der grüne Sommer ist so leise
Geworden, dein kristallenes Antlitz.
Am Abendweiher starben die Blumen,
Ein erschrockener Amselruf.
 
Vergebliche Hoffnung des Lebens.
Schon rüstet Zur Reise sich die Schwalbe im Haus
Und die Sonne versinkt am Hügel;
Schon winkt zur Sternenreise die Nacht.
 
Stille der Dörfer; es tönen rings
Die verlassenen Wälder. Herz,
Neige dich nun liebender
Über die ruhige Schläferin.
 
Der grüne Sommer ist so leise
Geworden und es läutet der Schritt
Des Fremdlings durch die silberne Nacht.
Gedächte ein blaues Wild seines Pfads,
Des Wohllauts seiner geistlichen Jahre!

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4. Summer's decline
Language: English 
The verdant summer has been growing
so muted, your countenance of crystal.
By the vespertine pond the flowers died,
an alarmed blackbird's call.

In vain is the hope of life. Prepared is
the swallow at home for its journey
and the sun is sinking by the hill;
night beckons to travel to the stars. 

Silence in hamlets. Around resound
the deserted forests. Heart,
bend now with deeper love
over the placidly sleeping girl.

The verdant summer has been growing
so muted, and the stranger's footstep
is ringing through the silvery night.
Would a blue deer think of his pathways,
the concord of his spiritual years!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 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:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2010-06-14
Line count: 17
Word count: 105

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann