English translation of Epilog

by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Epilog", op. 31 no. 6, published 1947 [ medium voice and piano ], from Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke, no. 6, Mainz: B. Schott’s Söhne, London: Schott & Co. Ltd.

Note: this is a translation of one multi-text setting.

Der von Langenau ist tief im Feind, aber ganz allein. 
Der Schrecken hat um ihn einen runden Raum gemacht,
und er hält, mitten drin,
unter seiner langsam verlodernden Fahne.
 ...

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Confirmed with Rainer Maria Rilke, Werke. Kommentiere Ausgabe in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Manfred Engel, Ulrich Fülleborn, Horst Nalewski, August Stahl, Band I Gedichte 1895 bis 1910, herausgegeben von Manfred Engel und Ulrich Fülleborn, Frankfurt am Main: Insel Verlag, 1996, pages 151-152.


Research team for this page: John Versmoren , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor] 
 ... 
Im nächsten Frühjahr (es kam traurig und kalt) 
ritt ein Kurier  ...  
langsam in Langenau ein. 
Dort hat er eine alte Frau weinen gesehen.

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Confirmed with Rainer Maria Rilke, Werke. Kommentiere Ausgabe in vier Bänden, herausgegeben von Manfred Engel, Ulrich Fülleborn, Horst Nalewski, August Stahl, Band I Gedichte 1895 bis 1910, herausgegeben von Manfred Engel und Ulrich Fülleborn, Frankfurt am Main: Insel Verlag, 1996, page 152.


Research team for this page: John Versmoren , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Author(s): Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
Von Langenau is deep among the enemy, but entirely alone. 
The terror has created a round space around him, 
and he stops, right in the middle, 
under his flag that is slowly burning up. 
Slowly, almost thoughtfully, he looks around himself.
There is much that is strange, colorful, before him.
Gardens - he thinks and smiles.
But then he feels
that eyes are holding him and he recognizes men 
and he knows they are the pagan dogs -:
and throws his horse right into them. 
But, as everything now crashes down around him, 
there are the gardens again, 
and the sixteen curved sabers 
that dance toward him, gleam for gleam, are a bright festivity. 
A laughing fountain.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Knut W. Barde, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation of title "Der Tod" = "Death"


The military coat burned up in the castle, 
the letter, and the rose petal from an unknown woman. - 
The following spring (it arrived sad and cold) 
a messenger of the Baron of Pirovano 
slowly rode into Langenau.  
There he saw an old woman crying.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2006 by Knut W. Barde, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation of title "Im nächsten Frühjahr" = "The following spring"


Translation © by Knut W. Barde