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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
La chambre en bois
Des morts tremble,
Quand douze fois le marteau
Frappe minuit.
Vite nous dansons autour des tombes
Et des ossements vermoulus,
Nous, les esprits des airs,
Une ronde impétueuse.
Pourquoi les chiens geignent-ils
Près de leur maître endormi ?
Ils flairent la ronde
Des esprits de loin.
Les corbeaux s'envolent
De l'abbaye déserte
Et volent le long des grilles
Du cimetière.
Nous voltigeons et badinons
Vers le bas et vers le haut
Comme des chandelles vagabondant
Dans des marais vaporeux.
...
Profondément tu as caché dans la sombre
Chambre notre douleur ;
Heureux, nous te murmurons
Joyeusement : Adieu !
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-5,7 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2010 by Guy Laffaille, (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 Friedrich von Matthisson (1761 - 1831), "Der Geistertanz", written 1797-98
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This text was added to the website: 2010-01-20
Line count: 28
Word count: 115