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Nachts um die zwölfte Stunde Verläßt der Tambour sein Grab, Macht mit der Trommel die Runde, Geht wirbelnd auf und ab. Mit seinen entfleischten Armen Rührt er die Schlägel zugleich; Schlägt manchen guten Wirbel, Reveill' und Zapfenstreich. Die Trommel klinget seltsam, Hat gar einen starken Ton, Die alten todten Soldaten Erwachen im Grabe davon. Und die im tiefen Norden Erstarrt in Schnee und Eis, Und die in Welschland liegen, Wo ihnen die Erde zu heiß; Und die der Nilschlamm decket Und der arabische Sand, Sie steigen aus den Gräbern Und nehmen's Gewehr zur Hand. ... Da kommen auf luftigen Pferden Die todten Reiter herbei, Die blutigen alten Schwadronen, In Waffen mancherlei. ... Und um die zwölfte Stunde Verläßt der Feldherr sein Grab, Kommt langsam hergeritten Umgeben von seinem Stab. Er trägt ein kleines Hütchen, Er trägt ein einfach Kleid, Und einen kleinen Degen Trägt er an seiner Seit. Der Mond mit gelbem Lichte Erhellt den weiten Plan, Der Mann im kleinen Hütchen Sieht sich die Truppen an. Die Reihen präsentiren Und schultern das Gewehr, Dann zieht mit klingendem Spiele Vorbei das ganze Heer. Die Marschälle und Generale Schließen um ihn den Kreis, Der Feldherr sagt dem Nächsten Ins Ohr ein Wörtchen leis'; Das Wort geht in die Runde, Klingt wieder fern und nah! »Frankreich« heißt die Parole, Die Losung: »Sanct Helena«. Das ist die große Parade Im Elisäischen Feld, Die um die zwölfte Stunde Der todte Kaiser hält.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5,7,9-15 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Willem Pijper (1894 - 1947), "Die nächtliche Heerschau", 1943, stanzas 1-5,7,9-15 [ voice and piano ], also set in French (Français)
Text Authorship:
- by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869), "Die nächtliche Heerschau"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (David Wyatt) , "The night-time review", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-10
Line count: 60
Word count: 285
At night, the twelfth hour, The drummer leaves his tomb, Sounds a roll with his drum, Goes whirling up and down With his fleshless arms He moves the sticks together Beats out a real whirlwind Calls Reveille and the Tattoo. The drum sounds strange, Has really a striking tone, The old dead soldiers Are woken from their graves by it. Both those in the far north Frozen in snow and ice, And those lying in Italy, Where the earth is too hot; And those whom Nile's mud covers, And the Arabian sand, They climb from their graves And take their guns in hand. ... Over there come on airy steeds The dead cavalrymen, The old bloody squadrons With many a weapon. ... And at the twelfth hour The Commander leaves his tomb, Comes slowly riding here Surrounded by his staff; He wears a small hat, He wears simple clothes, And a small sword He wears at his side. The moon with yellow light Brightens the wide plain, The man in the small hat Reviews his troops. The ranks present And shoulder arms, Then with drum loud playing The whole host marches past. The Marshals and Generals Close ranks in a circle The Commander speaks to the nearest A quiet word in his ear. The word goes round, Sounds again far and near, "France" is the watchword, The reply "St Helena". That is the great parade In the Elysian Fields Which, at the twelfth hour, The dead Caesar holds.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5,7,9-15 of the original text.
Note for the final stanza: "Elysian Fields": the home of the dead in Hades, but also (as "Champs-Elysées") a major boulevard in Paris
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2007 by David Wyatt, (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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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869), "Die nächtliche Heerschau"
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This text was added to the website: 2007-11-15
Line count: 60
Word count: 246