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Es tönet sein Lob Feld, und Wald, Thal, und Gebirg, Das Gestad' hallet, es donnert das Meer dumpfbrausend Des Unendlichen Lob, siehe des Herlichen, Unerreichten von dem Danklied der Natur! Es singt die Natur dennoch dem, welcher sie schuf, Ihr Getön schallet vom Himmel herab, [lautpreisend]1 In umwölkender Nacht rufet des Strahls Gefährt Von den Wipfeln, und der Berg' Haupt es herab! Es rauschet der Hain, und sein Bach lispelt es auch Mit empor, preisend, ein Feyrer, wie er! die Luft wehts Zu dem Bogen mit auf! Hoch in der Wolke ward Der Erhaltung und der Huld Bogen gesetzt. Und schweigest denn du, welchen Gott ewig erschuf? Und [verstumst]2 mitten im Preis' um dich her? Gott hauchte Dir Unsterblichkeit ein! Danke dem Herlichen! Unerreicht bleibt von dem Aufschwung des Gesangs Der Geber, allein dennoch sing, preis' ihn, o du, Der empfing! [Leuchtendes]3 Chor um mich her, ernstfreudig, Du Erheber des Herrn, tret' ich herzu, und sing' In Entzückung, o du Chor, Psalme mit dir! Der Welten erschuf, dort des Tags sinkendes Gold, Und den Staub hier voll Gewürmegedräng, wer ist der? Es ist Gott! es ist Gott! Vater! so rufen [wir]4; Und unzählbar, die mit uns rufen, seyd ihr! Der Welten erschuf, dort den Leun! Heisser ergießt Sich sein Herz! Widder, und dich Kaprikorn, Pleionen, Skorpion, und den Krebs. Steigender wägt sie dort Den Begleiter. Mit dem Pfeil zielet, und blitzt Der Schütze! Wie tönt, dreht er sich, Köcher, und Pfeil! Wie vereint leuchtet ihr, Zwilling', herab! Sie heben Im Triumphe des Gangs freudig den Strahlenfuß! Und der Fisch spielet, und bläst Ströme der Glut. Die Ros' in dem Kranz duftet Licht! Königlich schwebt, In dem Blick Flamme, der Adler, gebeut Gehorsam Den Gefährten um sich! Stolz, den gebognen Hals, Und den Fittig in die Höh, schwimmet der Schwan! Wer gab [Melodie]5, Leyer, dir? zog das Getön Und das Gold himlischer Saiten dir auf? Du schallest Zu dem kreisenden Tanz, welchen, beseelt von dir, Der Planet hält in der Laufbahn um dich her. In festlichem Schmuck schwebt, und trägt Halm' in der Hand, Und des Weins Laub die geflügelte Jungfrau! Licht stürzt Aus der Urn' er dahin! Aber Orion schaut Auf den Gürtel, nach der Urn schauet er nicht! Ach gösse dich einst, Schaale, Gott auf [den]6 Altar, So zerfiel Trümmer die Schöpfung! es bräch des Leun Herz! Es versiegte die Urn'! [hallete]7 Todeston Um die Leyer! und gewelkt sänke der Kranz! Dort schuf sie der Herr! hier dem Staub näher den Mond, [So]8, Genoß schweigender kühlender Nacht, sanft schimmernd Die Erdulder des Strahls heitert! in jener Nacht Der Entschlafnen da umstrahlt einst sie Gestirn! Ich preise den Herrn! preise den, welcher des Monds Und des Tods kühlender, heiliger Nacht, zu dämmern, Und zu leuchten! gebot. Erde, du Grab, das stets Auf uns harrt, Gott hat mit Blumen dich bestreut! Neuschaffend bewegt, steht er [auf zu dem]9 Gericht, Das gebeindeckende Grab, das Gefild der Saat, Gott! Es erwachet, wer schläft! Donner entstürzt dem Thron! Zum Gericht hallts! und das Grab hörts, und der Tod!
Confirmed with Klopstocks Oden. Erster Band. Leipzig bey Georg Joachim Göschen. 1798, pages 186-190; and with Oden von Klopstock. WIEN, gedruckt bey Joh. Thomas Edlen von Trattnern, k.k. Hofdruckern und Buchhändlern. 1784, pages 53-57.
1 Klopstock (1784 edition): "laut preisend"2 Klopstock (1784 edition): "verstummest"
3 Klopstock (1784 edition): "Feyrendes"
4 Klopstock (1784 edition): "wir an"
5 Klopstock (1784 edition): "Harmonie"
6 Klopstock (1784 edition): "dem"
7 Klopstock (1784 edition): "tönete"
8 Klopstock (1784 edition): "Der"
9 Klopstock (1784 edition): "nun auf zum"
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724 - 1803), "Die Gestirne", written 1764 [author's text checked 2 times 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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Die Gestirne", D 444 (1816) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Les constel·lacions", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De gesternten", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , "The constellations", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Gérard Labrunie) , "Les constellations"
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Il firmamento", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Antonio Zencovich) (Linda Van Der Mast) , "Le costellazioni", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 60
Word count: 504
Fields and forests, valleys and mountains ring out his praise, The coast resounds, the sea thunders with a muffled roar, Giving praise to the Infinite one, whose majesty Cannot be done justice to by nature's song of thanks! Even nature itself sings out to the one that created it, Its notes echo back from heaven; with loud praise The movement of the night stars beyond the clouds calls out From the treetops and the peaks of mountains! The woods are rustling, and its little stream whispers and raises The volume, giving praise, similarly a celebrant! the air carries The sound up to the overarching sky! High in the clouds is where The support for the graceful bow is located. So can you be silent, you whom God created for eternity? And is there silence around you in the midst of this praise? God breathed Immortality into you! Give thanks to the Lord of Lords! Although the song that rises up cannot do justice To the giver, nevertheless sing and praise him, you Who have received! Radiant chorus around me, solemnly joyful, Who magnify the Lord, let me join in and sing Psalms with you, oh chorus, sharing your entchantment! He who created worlds, both the day's sinking gold over there And the dust here, full of writhing worms, who is he? He is God! It is God! Father! Thus we call out; And let countless others call out with us! He who created worlds: Leo over there, pouring out his hot Heart! Aries, and you Capricorn, the Pleiades, Scorpion and Cancer. Climbing up over there it balances Its companion. Taking aim with an arrow and shooting, That is the Archer! At the sound he turns with his quiver and arrow! How united you glow up there, Gemini! They are lifting up Their beaming feet in joyful triumph as they walk! And Pisces is playing, blowing out streams of fire. The Rose in the garland smells of light! Swaying regally In the light of the flames is the eagle Aquila, with obedient Companions bent around it! Proudly, with its neck arched And its wings held high, swims Cygnus the swan! Lyre, who gave you melody? Did music And gold restring you with heavenly strings? You resound For the round dance which, animated by you, The planet performs around you as it goes on its course. Hovering up there wearing celebratory jewels, carrying a stem in her hand And vine-leaves, is winged Virgo! Light pours out From the Urn of Aquarius! But Orion is looking At his belt, not at the Urn! Oh bowl, if God ever emptied you onto the altar, The ruins of creation would collapse! The Lion's heart would break! The Urn would run dry! A deathly note would ring out From the Lyre! And the Cross would fade and sink! The Lord made them there! Here for the dust nearer to the moon, Companion of the silent, cooling night, so gently shimmering, He cheers those who experience its beams! The night will come When constellations will shine around those who have fallen asleep! I praise the Lord! I praise him who ordered the moon's And death's cooling, holy night to fall And he ordered them to offer illumination! Earth, you grave that always Waits for us, God has strewn you with flowers! Moved to create anew, he stands up in judgement over The bone-covering grave, the field sown with seeds! God! All that are asleep, wake up! Thunder rocks the throne! It is the call to judgement, and the grave and death hear it!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Malcolm Wren, (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 Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724 - 1803), "Die Gestirne", written 1764
This text was added to the website: 2017-08-17
Line count: 60
Word count: 596