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Bahnlos und pfadlos, Felsen hinan stürmet der Mensch, ein Wandersmann. Stürzende Bäche, wogender Fluß, brausender Wald, nichts hemmet den Fuß! Dunkel im Kampfe über ihn hin, jagend im Heere die Wolken zieh'n; rollender Donner, strömender Guß, sternlose Nacht, nichts hemmet den Fuß! Endlich, ha! endlich schimmert's von fern! Ist es ein Irrlicht, ist es ein Stern? Ha! wie der Schimmer so freundlich blinkt, wie er mich locket, wie er mir winkt! Rascher durcheilet der Wandrer die Nacht, Hin nach dem Lichte zieht's ihn mit Macht! Sprecht, wie: sind's Flammen, ist's Morgenrot? Ist es die Liebe, ist es der Tod?
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Authorship:
- by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Steffen Schleiermacher (b. 1960), "Sternloses Licht", 2010 [ large chorus ], note: may be wrong text for this title [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Ungewisses Licht", op. posth. 141 no. 2 (1849), published 1858 [ double SATB chorus and piano ], from Vier doppelchörige Gesänge, no. 2, Leipzig, Kistner [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Onzeker licht", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Uncertain light", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Lumière incertaine", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-05-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 99
Woest land doorkruisend, hoog naar de rots Voort stormt de mens, een zwerver trots. Stortende beken, golvende stroom, Wild ruisend woud, niets houdt hem in toom! Donker aan 't strijden, hoog in de lucht, Jagende legers, der wolken vlucht; Rollende donder, gutsende bui, Gitzwarte nacht, hem remt zelfs geen tui! Eind'lijk, ha eind'lijk, licht daarginds ver! Is het een dwaallicht, is het een ster? Ha! Hoe het schijnsel mij hoop weer schenkt, Hoe het mij aanlokt, hoe het mij wenkt! Vlugger doorsnijdt nu de zwerver de nacht, Snel naar het licht, het trekt hem met macht! Zeg me: zijn 't vlammen, is 't morgenrood? Is het de liefde, is het de dood?
Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2013 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
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Joseph Christian Freiherr von Zedlitz (1796 - 1869)
This text was added to the website: 2013-10-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 112