by
Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
Karfreitag
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG
Verhangener Tag, im Wald noch Schnee,
Im kahlen Holz die Amsel singt:
Des Frühlings Atem ängstlich schwingt,
Von Lust geschwellt, beschwert von Weh.
So schweigsam steht und klein im Gras
Das Krokusvolk, das Veilchennest,
Es duftet scheu und weiß nicht was,
Es duftet Tod und duftet Fest.
Baumknospen stehn von Tränen blind,
Der Himmel hängt so bang und nah,
Und alle Gärten, Hügel sind
Gethsemane und Golgatha.
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.
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 313-314.
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Julius Klaas (1888 - 1965), "Karfreitag", op. 5 no. 1, published 1939 [ high voice and piano ], from Fünf Lieder nach Dichtungen von Hermann Hesse, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Karl Scholz , "Karfreitag ", 1958 [ voice and piano ], from Drei Gedichte von Hermann Hesse, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Anton Würz (1903 - 1995), "Karfreitag ", op. 36 no. 1 (1948) [ baritone and piano ], from Sechs Lieder für Bariton nach Gedichten von Hermann Hesse, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Good Friday", copyright © 2018, (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: 2009-05-16
Line count: 12
Word count: 67
Good Friday
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Overcast day, still snow in the forest,
In the bare woods the blackbird sings:
The breath of spring vibrates tremulously,
Swelled by joy, laden with melancholy.
Thus silent and small stands in the grass
The crocus folk, the nest of violets,
They emit their scent shyly and unknowingly,
It is the scent of death and is the scent of celebration.
Buds on the tree stand blind with tears,
The sky lowers so closely and anxiously,
And all the gardens, all the hills are
Gethsemane and Calvary.
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), "Karfreitag", written 1931
This text was added to the website: 2018-12-07
Line count: 12
Word count: 86