Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
[Im]1 Anfang herrschten jene frommen Fürsten, Feld, Korn und Pflug zu weihen und das Recht Der Opfer und der Maße im Geschlecht Der Sterblichen zu üben, welche dürsten Nach der Unsichtbaren gerechtem Walten, Das Sonn und Mond im Gleichgewichte hält, Und deren ewig strahlende Gestalten Des Leids nicht kennen und des Todes Welt. Längst ist der Göttersöhne heilige Reihe Erloschen, und die Menschheit blieb allein, In Lust und Leides Taumel, fern vom Sein, Ein ewiges Werden ohne Maß und Weihe. Doch niemals starb des wahren Lebens Ahnung, Und unser ist das Amt, im Niedergang Durch Zeichenspiel, durch Gleichnis und Gesang Fortzubewahren heiliger Ehrfurcht Mahnung. Vielleicht, daß einst das Dunkel sich verliert, Vielleicht, daß einmal sich die Zeiten wenden, Daß Sonne wieder uns als Gott regiert Und Opfergaben nimmt von unsern Händen.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with Hermann Hesse, Sämtliche Werke, herausgegeben von Volker Michels, Band 10 Die Gedichte, bearbeitet von Peter Huber, Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 2002, pages 335-336.
1 Creuzburg: "Am"Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Dienst", written 1936 [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 Heinrich Creuzburg (b. 1907), "Dienst", published 1975 [ baritone and small orchestra ], from Drei Gesänge nach Gedichten aus "Das Glasperlenspiel", no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ernst Pfiffner (1922 - 2011), "Dienst", <<1983 [ voice and piano ], from Vier Glasperlenspiel-Gesänge, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Servei", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Service", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-05-03
Line count: 20
Word count: 132
[In]1 the beginning reigned those pious princes, In order to dedicate field, wheat and plow, And to practise justice of the offerings and measures In the race of mortals, who thirst For the righteous workings of the Invisible Ones That hold sun and moon in balance, And whose eternally radiant figures Know not the worlds of suffering and of death. The holy of line of the sons of gods has long Been extinguished, and mankind remained alone In the frenzy of joy and suffering, far from Being, An eternal Becoming without moderation and consecration. But the intimation of true life never died, And in the decline it is our duty to continue To preserve the exhortation of holy awe Through a play of symbols, through parable and song. Perhaps darkness shall one day dissipate, Perhaps once more the times shall change, So that the sun shall again reign over us as god And accept offerings from our hands.
1 Creuzburg: "At"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2016 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), "Dienst", written 1936
This text was added to the website: 2016-08-09
Line count: 20
Word count: 159