Oh when a heart, long dwelling in renunciation

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by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

O wenn ein Herz, ‑ ‑ ‑

(Sung text for setting by H. Apostel)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

O wenn ein Herz, längst wohnend im Entwöhnen,
von aller Kunft und Zuversicht getrennt,
erwacht und plötzlich hört, wie man es nennt:
»Du Überfluß, Du Fülle eines Schönen!« 

Was soll es tun? Wie sich dem Glück versöhnen,
das kommt und seine Hand und Wange kennt?
Schmerz zu verschweigen war sein Element,
nun zwingt das Liebes-Staunen es, zu tönen.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2 of the original text.

Composition:

Hans Erich Apostel

Text Authorship:

by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Sonett"

See other settings of this text.

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2018-10-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 110

Oh when a heart, ‑ ‑ ‑

(Sung text translation for setting by H. Apostel)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Oh when a heart, long dwelling in renunciation,
separated from all coming and assurance,
wakens and suddenly hears, how it is called:
"Thou plenitude, thou abundance of a beauty!"

What should it do?  How reconcile itself with the happiness
that comes and knows its heart and cheek?
To conceal pain was its element;
now love's wonderment forces it to resound.

 ...

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-2 of the original text.

Translations of title(s):
"O wenn ein Herz, - - -" = "Oh when a heart, - - -"
"Sonett" = "Sonnet"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in German (Deutsch) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Sonett"
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This text was added to the website: 2018-11-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 121