Four choruses on poems by Georg Trakl

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Steffen Schleiermacher (b. 1960)

View original-language texts alone: Vier Chöre nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl

1. Verfall   [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Am Abend, wenn die Glocken Frieden läuten,
Folg' ich der Vögel wundervollen Flügen,
Die lang geschart, gleich frommen Pilgerzügen,
Entschwinden in den herbstlich klaren Weiten.

Hinwandelnd durch den dämmervollen Garten
Träum' ich nach ihren helleren Geschicken
Und fühl' der Stunden Weiser kaum mehr rücken.
So folg' ich über Wolken ihrer Fahrten.

Da macht ein Hauch mich von Verfall erzittern.
Die Amsel klagt in den entlaubten Zweigen.
Es schwankt der rote Wein an rostigen Gittern.

Indes wie blasser Kinder Todesreigen
Um dunkle Brunnenränder, die verwittern,
Im Wind sich fröstelnd blaue Astern neigen.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1. Decay
Language: English 
At nightfall, when the bells of peace are ringing,
I follow the birds’ wonderful migration,
that in long rows, like groups of pious pilgrims,
pass out of sight into fall’s clear expanses.

Walking at leisure through the dusky garden
I dream after their destinies, much brighter,
and hardly feel the hour hand’s advancing.
Above the clouds I follow thus their journeys.

A soft whiff of decay makes me then tremble.
The blackbird wails in the bare-facèd branches.
The crimson vine leaves sway on rusty treillage.

Meanwhile like death-dances of pallid children
around dark brims of fountains decomposing,
in autumn’s wind blue asters bend and shiver.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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: 2018-11-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 105

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
2. Herbstliche Heimkehr  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Erinnerung, begrabene Hoffnung
Bewahrt dies braune Gebälk
Darüber Georginen hangen,
Immer stillere Heimkehr,
Der verfallne Garten [dunklen]1 Abglanz
[Kindlicher]2 Jahre,
Daß von blauen Lidern [Tränen]3 stürzen
[Unaufhaltsam;
Hinüberschimmern der Schwermut
Kristallne Minuten
Zur Nacht.]4

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View original text (without footnotes)
Third version.
1 Trakl's first version: "den dunklen"
2 first version: "Vergangener"; second version: "Vergangner"
3 first version: "die Tränen"
4 first version: "Dem Fremdling unaufhaltsam." ; second version: 
Unaufhaltsam.
O Geliebtes!
Schon tropft vom rostigen Ahorn
Laub, hinüberschimmern der Schwermut
Kristallne Minuten
Zur Nacht.


by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
2. Autumnal homecoming
Language: English 
Remembrance, buried hope
is preserved by these brown beams
over which Dahlias trail.
Ever calmer homecoming,
the abandoned garden, dark reflection  
of childhood years,
that tears fall from blue lids
[unstoppably;
melancholy’s crystal minutes
blink over
to the night.]1

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

    If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact:

Based on:

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Translation of titles
"Herbstliche Heimkehr (1. Fassung)" = "Autumnal homecoming (first version)"
"Herbstliche Heimkehr" = "Autumnal homecoming"

1 Second version: 
Unstoppably.
O beloved!
Already leaves are dropping from the rusty maple,
melancholy’s crystal minutes
blink over
to the night.


This text was added to the website: 2016-06-26
Line count: 11
Word count: 39

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
3. Die Ratten  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
In Hof scheint weiß der herbstliche Mond.
Vom Dachrand fallen phantastische Schatten.
Ein Schweigen in leeren Fenstern wohnt;
Da tauchen leise herauf die Ratten
 
Und huschen pfeifend hier und dort
Und ein gräulicher Dunsthauch wittert
Ihnen nach aus dem Abort,
Den geisterhaft der Mondschein durchzittert
 
Und sie keifen vor Gier wie toll
Und erfüllen Haus und Scheunen,
Die von Korn und Früchten voll.
Eisige Winde im Dunkel greinen.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3. The rats
Language: English 
The autumn moon shines milk-white in the yard.
Chimeric shadows fall from eaves and crests.
A silence dwells in empty windows;
then furtively the rats appear

and scurry whistling here and there
and a grayish vapour scents them
following them from the latrine,
on which the moonlight quivers eerily

and they shriek as if mad from greed
and crowd barns and houses,
full of grain and fruit.
Icy winds whine in the darkness.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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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This text was added to the website: 2018-11-28
Line count: 12
Word count: 73

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann
4. An Mauern hin  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Nimmer das goldene Antlitz des Frühlings;
Dunkles Lachen im Haselgebüsch. Abendspaziergang im Wald
Und der inbrünstige Schrei der Amsel.
Taglang rauscht in der Seele des Fremdlings das glühende Grün.
 
Metallne Minute: Mittag, Verzweiflung des Sommers;
Die Schatten der Buchen und das gelbliche Korn.
Taufe in keuschen Wassern. O der purpurne Mensch.
Ihm aber gleichen Wald, Weiher und weißes Wild.
 
Kreuz und Kirche im Dorf. In dunklem Gespräch
Erkannten sich Mann und Weib
Und an kahler Mauer wandelt mit seinen Gestirnen der Einsame.
 
Leise über den mondbeglänzten Weg des Walds
Sank die Wildnis vergessener Jagden.
Blick der Bläue aus verfallenen Felsen bricht.

Text Authorship:

  • by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914), "An Mauern hin", subtitle: "Im Dunkel"

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4. Along walls
Language: English 
Never the golden countenance of spring;
dark laughter in the hazel bushes. Evening walk in the forest
and the blackbird’s passionate call.
For days the blazing green whispers in the stranger’s soul.

Metal minute: midday, summer’s despair;
The shadows of the beeches and the yellowish grain.
Baptism in chaste waters. O, the purple man.
But forest, pond and white deer resemble him.

Cross and church in the village. In dark conversation
man and woman knew each other
and the lonely one walks with his stars along a bleak wall.

Quietly over the moon-silvered wooded trail
the fierceness of forgotten hunting sank.
Gaze of blueness breaking from eroded rocks.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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: 2018-11-28
Line count: 14
Word count: 108

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann