Songs in the night. 12 songs on poems by Georg Trakl

Translations © by Bertram Kottmann

Song Cycle by Ernst Ludwig Leitner (b. 1943)

View original-language texts alone: Gesang zur Nacht. 12 Gesänge nach Gedichten von Georg Trakl

1. Vom Schatten eines Hauchs geboren  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Vom Schatten eines Hauchs geboren
Wir wandeln in Verlassenheit
Und sind im Ewigen verloren,
Gleich Opfern unwissend, wozu sie geweiht.

Gleich Bettlern ist uns nichts zu eigen,
Uns Toren am verschloßnen Tor.
Wie Blinde lauschen wir ins Schweigen,
In dem sich unser Flüstern verlor.

Wir sind die Wandrer ohne Ziele,
Die Wolken, die der Wind verweht,
Die Blumen, zitternd in Todeskühle,
Die warten, bis man sie niedermäht.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
1.
Language: English 
From shadows of a breath arisen
we wander, lonely and forlorn
and in eternity forsaken, 
like sacrificed ones unknowing to whom. 

Like beggars nothing is our own: 
fools, standing at the locked-up gate. 
And blind we listen to the silence, 
in which our whispering got lost. 

We wander without destinations, 
and clouds we are, blown by the wind, 
and flowers, trembling in fear of dying, 
which wait until one mows them down.

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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Word count: 72

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2. Daß sich die letzte Qual erfülle  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Daß sich die letzte Qual an mir erfülle,
Ich wehr' euch nicht, ihr feindlich dunklen Mächte.
Ihr seid die Straße hin zur großen Stille,
Darauf wir schreiten in die kühlsten Nächte.

Es macht mich euer Atem lauter brennen,
Geduld! Der Stern verglüht, die Träume gleiten
In jene Reiche, die sich uns nicht nennen,
Und die wir traumlos dürfen nur beschreiten.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
2.
Language: English 
So that the last torment fulfills itself in me, 
I fight you not, you dark and hostile forces. 
You are the road that leads to the great stillness -
we stride on it into the coolest nights.  

It is your breath that makes my yearning louder, 
patience! The star burns out, the dreams are gliding 
into those realms never revealed to us, 
in which we only dreamlessly may stride.

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.

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3. Du dunkle Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du dunkle Nacht, du dunkles Herz,
Wer spiegelt eure heiligsten Gründe,
Und eurer Bosheit letzte Schlünde?
Die Maske starrt vor unsrem Schmerz -

Vor unsrem Schmerz, vor unsrer Lust
Der leeren Maske steinern Lachen,
Daran die irdnen Dinge brachen,
Und das uns selber nicht bewußt.

Und steht vor uns ein fremder Feind,
Der höhnt, worum wir sterbend ringen,
Daß trüber unsre Lieder klingen
Und dunkel bleibt, was in uns weint.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
3.
Language: English 
You deep dark night, you deep dark heart; 
who mirrors your most sacred valleys, 
and your venom’s hindmost chasms? 
The mask is frozen with our pain - 

with our pain, with our lust 
the empty mask’s granite-like laughter, 
on which the earthen things were breaking, 
and which we are oblivious to. 

Before us there’s an unknown foe, 
who scoffs at what we dying struggle, 
so that our songs sound even sadder
and that, what weeps in us, stays dark.

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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4. Du bist der Wein  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist der Wein, der trunken macht,
Nun blüh ich hin in süßen Tänzen
Und muß mein Leid mit Blumen kränzen!
So will's dein tiefster Sinn, o Nacht!

Ich bin die Harfe in deinem Schoß,
Nun ringt um meine letzten Schmerzen
Dein dunkles Lied in meinem Herzen
Und macht mich ewig, wesenlos.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
4.
Language: English 
You are the wine that makes me drunk, 
now I’m in blossom sweetly dancing
and have to crown my grief with flowers! 
That is your deepest meaning’s will, o night! 

I am the harp within your lap, 
and now your dark song in my bosom
is struggling for my final ache -
makes me eternal and unreal.

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.

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5. Tiefe Ruh  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tiefe Ruh - o tiefe Ruh!
Keine fromme Glocke läutet,
Süße Schmerzensmutter du -
Deinen Frieden todgeweitet.

Schließ mit deinen kühlen, guten
Händen alle Wunden zu -
Daß nach innen sie verbluten -
Süße Schmerzensmutter - du!

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
5.
Language: English 
Profound peace - o profound peace! 
Not a pious church bell ringing, 
sweetest mater dolorosa - 
for your peace that is death-widened. 

Close all wounds, they may be healing,
with your good and cooling hands - 
so that they may bleed out inward - 
dearest Mother of Sorrows - you!

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.

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6. O laß mein Schweigen sein  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O laß mein Schweigen sein dein Lied!
Was soll des Armen Flüstern dir,
Der aus des Lebens Gärten schied?
Laß namenlos dich sein in mir -

Die traumlos in mir aufgebaut,
Wie eine Glocke ohne Ton,
Wie meiner Schmerzen süße Braut
Und meiner Schlafe trunkner Mohn.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
6.
Language: English 
O let my silence be your song! 
What should the poor man’s whisper be for you, 
he who has parted from life’s gardens? 
Let you abide in me unnamed -
 
who dreamlessly exists in me, 
such as a bell without a tone, 
such as my sorrow’s lovely bride 
and the drunk poppy of my sleeps.

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.

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7. Blumen hörte ich sterben  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Blumen hörte ich sterben im Grund
Und der Bronnen trunkne Klage
Und ein Lied aus Glockenmund,
Nacht, und eine geflüsterte Frage;
Und ein Herz - o todeswund,
Jenseits seiner armen Tage.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
7.
Language: English 
Flowers I heard that died in the vale
and the fountains’ drunken wailing
and a song from the bell’s mouth, 
night, and a question being whispered; 
and a death wound in a heart
that is beyond its needy days.

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.

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8. Das Dunkel löschte mich schweigend aus   [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das Dunkel löschte mich schweigend aus,
Ich ward ein toter Schatten im Tag -
Da trat ich aus der Freunde Haus
In die Nacht hinaus.

Nun wohnt ein Schweigen im Herzen mir,
Das fühlt nicht nach den öden Tag -
Und lächelt wie Dornen auf zu dir,
Nacht - für und für!

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
8.
Language: English 
The darkness silently wiped me out, 
I was a dead shadow in the day - 
then I stepped out of my friends’ house -
out into the night. 

Now there is a silence in my heart, 
that does not feel the dreary day - 
and it smiles up to you like thorns, 
Night - forever!

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.

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9. O Nacht  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Nacht, du stummes Tor vor meinem Leid,
Verbluten sieh dies dunkle Wundenmal
Und ganz geneigt den Taumelkelch der Qual!
O Nacht, ich bin bereit!

O Nacht, du Garten der Vergessenheit
Um meiner Armut weltverschloss'nen Glanz,
Das Weinlaub welkt, es welkt der Dornenkranz.
O komm, du hohe Zeit!

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
9.
Language: English 
O night, you wordless gate into my harm, 
see bleeding out this stigma dark 
and see the cup of trembling at a tilt! 
Ready am I, o night! 

O night, you garden of forgottenness
round my need’s shine, secreted from the world,
the vine leaves wilt, the crown of thorns, it wilts. 
O come, you solemn time!

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.

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10. Es hat ein Dämon einst gelacht   [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Es hat mein Dämon einst gelacht,
Da war ich ein Licht in schimmernden Gärten,
Und hatte Spiel und Tanz zu Gefährten
Und der Liebe Wein, der trunken macht.

Es hat mein Dämon einst geweint,
Da war ich ein Licht in schmerzlichen Gärten
Und hatte die Demut zum Gefährten,
Deren Glanz der Armut Haus bescheint.

Doch nun mein Dämon nicht weint noch lacht,
Bin ich ein Schatten verlorener Gärten
Und habe zum todesdunklen Gefährten
Das Schweigen der leeren Mitternacht.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
10.
Language: English 
In former times my demon laughed, 
when I was a light in glimmering gardens, 
and dalliance and dance were my companions
and the wine of love, which makes us drunk.

In former times my demon cried, 
when I was a light in grief-stricken gardens 
and humility was my companion, 
whose clarity shines on poverty’s house. 

Now that my demon neither weeps nor laughs, 
I am a shadow of forsaken gardens 
and have as my deathly-dark companion
the silence of the empty midnight.

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.

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11. Mein armes Lächeln  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Mein armes Lächeln, das um dich rang,
Mein schluchzendes Lied im Dunkel verklang.
Nun will mein Weg zu Ende gehn.

Laß treten mich in deinen Dom
Wie einst, ein Tor, einfältig, fromm,
Und stumm anbetend vor dir stehn.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
11.
Language: English 
My paltry smile, that struggled for you, 
my sobbing song died away in the dark. 
And now my path draws to a close. 

In your cathedral let me tread 
like once, a fool, simple, devout, 
and stand before you, mute, adoring.

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.

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Word count: 41

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12. Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht  [sung text not yet checked]
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht
Ein totes Gestade an schweigendem Meer,
Ein totes Gestade: Nimmermehr!
Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht.

Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht
Der Himmel, in dem du als Stern geglüht,
Ein Himmel, aus dem kein Gott mehr blüht.
Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht.

Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht
Ein Unempfangner in süßem Schoß,
Und nie gewesen, wesenlos!
Du bist in tiefer Mitternacht.

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by Georg Trakl (1887 - 1914)
12.
Language: English 
You are in midnight deep  
a dead shore at the silent sea, 
a dead shore: Never more! 
You are in midnight deep. 

You are in midnight deep
the heaven in which you glowed as a star, 
a heaven from which no more God is abloom. 
You are in midnight deep. 

You are in midnight deep
an unbegotten in sweet womb, 
never existed and unreal! 
You are in midnight deep.

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: 2016-10-26
Line count: 12
Word count: 69

Translation © by Bertram Kottmann