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Zu Hirsau in den Trümmern Da wiegt ein Ulmenbaum Frisch grünend seine Krone Hoch überm Giebelsaum. Er wurzelt tief im Grunde Vom alten Klosterbau; Er wölbt sich statt des Daches Hinaus in Himmelsblau. Weil des Gemäuers Enge Ihm Luft und Sonne nahm, So trieb's ihn hoch und höher, Bis er zum Lichte kam. Es ragen die vier Wände, Als ob sie nur bestimmt, Den kühnen Wuchs zu schirmen, Der zu den Wolken klimmt. Wenn dort im grünen Tale Ich einsam mich erging, Die Ulme war's, die hehre, Woran mein Sinnen hing. Wenn in dem dumpfen, stummen Getrümmer ich gelauscht, Da hat ihr reger Wipfel Im Windesflug gerauscht. Ich sah ihn oft erglühn Im ersten Morgenstrahl; Ich sah ihn noch erleuchtet, [Wann]1 schattig rings das Tal. Zu Wittenberg im Kloster Wuchs auch ein solcher Strauß Und brach mit Riesenästen Zum Klausedach hinaus. O Strahl des Lichts, du [dringest]2 Hinab in jede Gruft. O Geist der Welt, du ringest Hinauf in Licht und Luft.
1 Strauss: "wenn"
2 Strauss: "dringst"
Authorship:
- by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862), "Die Ulme zu Hirsau", appears in Balladen und Romanzen [author's text checked 1 time 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 Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949), "Die Ulme zu Hirsau", op. 43 no. 3 (1899), published 1900 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Gesänge älterer deutscher Dichter für 1 Singstimme und Pianofortebegleitung, no. 3, Berlin, Challier & Co. [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "L’om de Hirsau", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The elm of Hirsau", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'orme d'Hirsau", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Alberto Pedrotti
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 36
Word count: 162
In the ruins at Hirsau The crown of an elm tree, Fresh with new green, sways High above the margin of the gables. The elm is rooted deep in the earth Of an old abbey; In place of an abbey roof it arches Itself out into the blue of heaven. Because the constraints of the masonry Robbed [the elm] of air and sunshine, It was driven high and higher, Until it reached the light. The four walls stand As if they were solely destined To protect the valiant growth [of the elm] That aspires to the clouds. When there in the green valley I roamed on my solitary walks, It was the elm, the noble one, On which my thoughts dwelt. When in the gloomy, mute Ruins I [sat and] listened, Then its animated treetop Soughed in the wake of the wind. I often saw it beginning to glow In the first sunbeams of morning; I saw it still illumined When the valley round about was already in shadow. In Wittenberg in the abbey There, too, grew such a tree And with its giant branches It broke through the ceiling of its cell. Oh beam of light, you penetrate Down into every dark place. Oh spirit of the world, you struggle Upward toward light and air.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Ludwig Uhland (1787 - 1862), "Die Ulme zu Hirsau", appears in Balladen und Romanzen
This text was added to the website: 2014-05-26
Line count: 36
Word count: 216