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Die bretterne Kammer
Der Todten erbebt,
Wenn zwölfmal den Hammer
Die Mitternacht hebt.
Rasch tanzen um Gräber
Und morsches Gebein
Wir luftigen Schweber
Den sausenden Reihn.
Was winseln die Hunde
Beim schlafenden Herrn?
Sie wittern die Runde
Der Geister so fern.
Die Raben entflattern
Der wüsten Abtei,
Und fliehn vor den Gattern
Des Kirchhofs vorbei.
Wir gaukeln, und scherzen
Hinab und empor,
Gleich irrenden Kerzen
Im dunstigen Moor.
...
Tief bargst du im düstern
Gemach unser Weh;
Wir Glücklichen flüstern
Dir fröhlich: Ade!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5,7 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Geistertanz", op. 5 (Vier deutsche Lieder) no. 4, published 1834, stanzas 1-5,7 [ voice and piano ], note: first published without an opus number; designated in 1867 as opus 5; München: Falter und Sohn
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Der Geistertanz", written 1797-98
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Antonio Zencovich) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 100
De holhouten kamer
Der doden vibreert,
Als twaalf maal de hamer
De nachttijd halveert.
Ras dansen om zerken
En rottend gebeent'
Wij, vliegende vlerken,
In reidans vereend.
Wat janken de honden
In 't slapend gehucht?
Zij speuren de ronden
Van 't volk in de lucht.
De raven verlaten
De bouwvalabdij
En vliegen de platen
Van 't kerkhof voorbij.
Wij dart'len als schichten
Door lucht en gewas,
Als dolende lichten
In 't dampig moeras.
...
Diep borg j' in een duister
Vertrek onze kwel;
Wij boffers, wij fluist'ren
Je vrolijk: Vaarwel!
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5,7 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2006 by Lau Kanen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
Lau Kanen. Contact: boudewijnkanen (AT) gmail (DOT) com
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Der Geistertanz", written 1797-98
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This text was added to the website: 2006-08-28
Line count: 28
Word count: 105