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Die Frauen von Ravenna tragen Mit tiefem Blick und zarter Geste In sich ein Wissen von den Tagen Der alten Stadt und ihrer Feste. Die Frauen von Ravenna weinen Wie stille Kinder: tief und leise. Und wenn sie lachen, will es scheinen Zu trübem Text die helle Weise. Die Frauen von Ravenna beten Wie Kinder: sanft und voll Genügen. Sie können Liebesworte reden Und selbst nicht wissen, daß sie lügen. Die Frauen von Ravenna küssen Seltsam und tief und hingegeben. Und ihnen allen ist vom Leben Nichts kund, als daß wir sterben müssen.
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., 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.
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 77-78.
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1901, appears in Unterwegs, in Ravenna (1901), no. 2, first published 1911 [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 Richard Maux (1893 - 1971), "Die Frauen von Ravenna tragen ", op. 181 no. 4, op. 95 (Zwei Lieder) no. 2 (1920), published 1941 [ high voice or medium-high voice and piano ], from Italische Reise, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by (Carl Theodor) Oskar Ulmer (1883 - 1966), "Die Frauen von Ravenna tragen", op. 36 no. 2 (1934?) [ alto or baritone and orchestra ], from Ravenna: Zwei Impressionen, no. 2 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Les dones de Ravenna porten", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "The women of Ravenna bear", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Ravenna - II", copyright © 2013, (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: 2009-05-06
Line count: 16
Word count: 93
With deep eyes and delicate gestures, The women of Ravenna bear Within themselves a knowledge of the days Of the old city and of its festivals. The women of Ravenna weep Like silent children: deeply and quietly. And when they laugh, it seems Like a bright melody to a bleak text. The women of Ravenna pray Like children: gently and full of contentment. They can speak words of love And not know themselves that they are lying. The women of Ravenna kiss Strangely and deeply and surrendering themselves. And of life they know nothing But that we must die.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 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 Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), no title, written 1901, appears in Unterwegs, in Ravenna (1901), no. 2, first published 1911
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-10
Line count: 16
Word count: 99