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Durch die ganze Schöpfung bebet Ein geheimnißvoller Drang, Und was todt ist, was da lebet, Übt den Ton, versucht Gesang. Aus dem Fels, aus dem Metalle Bricht ein Zauberton hervor, Ja, mit still [verschämtem]1 Halle [Grüßt uns selbst der Blumen Chor.]2 Freier im Gezirp der Grille, In dem Schlag der Nachtigall Hebt sich aus der Seele Stille Ahnungsvoll der frohe Schall. Aber aus der Menschenseele Schwingt auf überird’scher Bahn, Daß sie Geistern sich vermähle, Sich die Sprache himmelan! Und die heilig hehren Klänge Machen tiefe Räthsel kund; Hochbegeisterte Gesänge Strömen aus des Sehers Mund. Freude, Liebe, Hoffnung quellen In der Töne [Sturm]3 hervor, Und der Rührung sanfte Wellen Tragen uns zu Gott empor. Wenn aus schöner Frauen Munde Solcher Wohllaut schön getönt, Ward des Ohres Wonnestunde Durch des Auges-Ohr verschönt. Ja, ich glaub’ den heil’gen Sagen: Von dem Glück im Paradies; Seliger [sic] Lieder Wirbel schlagen Seraph schön u. Chorus süß. Dort, im Vaterlande singet Alles um mich, und das Wort, Das vom Mensch zu Menschen dringet, Heiligt alle, jeden Ort.-- Hier, in dieser öden Schwüle Die kein Mensch, kein Laut geweiht, Schlägt das Herz mir matt, ich fühle, Deine Schmerzen, Einsamkeit!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Confirmed with the poetry manuscript in the Bäyerische Staatsbibliothek (Signatur: Martiusiana I, B, 1, 5).
1 Lang (in both manuscripts): "verschämter" (an error)2 In the poetry manuscript in Munich, the author crossed out his original line (given above) and changed it to "Säuselnd grüßt der Blumen Chor."
3 Lang: "Strom"
Note (provided by Sharon Krebs): Lang set stanzas 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and a different stanza 7 shown below. One song manuscript has all six stanzas, three of which are written out underneath the song. The other song manuscript (by a copyist) has only the first three stanzas.
Lang’s final stanza:Singe drum, in deinen Liedern Wird die innre Seele laut, Und du zwingst uns zu erwiedern, Reiner Töne holde Braut!
Text Authorship:
- by Karl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794 - 1868), "Stille der Wüste" [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- by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Lied" [ voice and piano ], unpublished, undated; see note below the text for information about the existing manuscripts [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-30
Line count: 40
Word count: 195
Through all of creation there trembles A mysterious urge, And that which is dead, that which is alive Practises the sound, attempts song. From the rock, from the metal Erupts a magical tone, Yes, with quiet bashful sound [Even the choir of flowers greets us.]1 More freely in the chirping of the cricket, In the throbbing of the nightingale, From the silence of the soul arises The joyful sound, full of premonition. But from the soul of humankind, Vibrating upon an other-worldly path In order to unite with the spirits, The utterance rises heavenward! And the holy, lofty sounds Reveal deep mysteries; Highly enraptured songs Stream forth from the lips of the visionary. Happiness, love, hope surge Out of the [storm]3 of the sounds, And the gentle waves of emotion Carry us up to God. When from the lips of beautiful women Such mellifluous tones sounded beautifully, The bliss-filled hour of the ear Was enhanced by the eye’s ear. Yes, I believe the holy sagas: Of the joy in paradise; The whirl of blessed songs is throbbed forth Beautifully by seraph and sweetly by the chorus. There in the homeland everything About me sings, and the word That surges from human to human Sanctifies all, [sanctifies] every place.-- Here in this desolate humidity That has been consecrated by no man, no tone, My heart beats wearily; I feel, Solitude, your pains!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Translated titles:
"Stille der Wüste" = "Silence of the desert"
"Lied" = "Song"
3 Lang: "flow"
Lang’s final stanza:
Therefore sing, in your songs Your inner soul gains utterance, And you force us to respond, [You] lovely bride of pure tones.
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Friedrich Philipp von Martius (1794 - 1868), "Stille der Wüste"
This text was added to the website: 2016-11-30
Line count: 40
Word count: 233