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Wir senkten die Wurzeln in Moos und Gestein, Wir wiegten die Schultern im rosigen Schein, Wir tranken die Sonne, den Thau und das Licht, Wir prangten in Schönheit und wußten es nicht. Der Lenz strich vorüber und küßte uns leis, Der Tag ward so still und die Nächte so heiß, Der Wind sprach von Liebe manch flüsterndes Wort, Ein Schritt kam gegangen . . ein Arm trug uns fort.-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Wer hält unser Leben in zitternder Hand? Es duftet und rieselt ein weißes Gewand . . . Wir sehn eine Brust, die die Sehnsucht erregt, Wir hören ein Herz, das in Leidenschaft schlägt. Von Liebe gebrochen, zu Liebe gebracht -- Wir grüßen dich, Schwester, in schweigender Nacht. Der Tag, der zu holderem Blühen dich ruft, Er senkt unsre Schönheit verwelkt in die Gruft.
Confirmed with Anna Ritter, Befreiung. Neue Gedichte, Fünfte Auflage, Stuttgart: J.G. Cotta'sche Buchhandlung Nachfolger, 1900, pages 140-141.
Authorship:
- by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921), "Rosenlied", appears in Befreiung. Neue Gedichte, in 5. Natur, no. 20 [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 Paul Caro (1859 - 1914), "Rosenlied", op. 36 (Lieder für eine höhere Singstimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1910 [ high voice and piano ], Wien & Leipzig: Adolf Robitscheck [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957), "Rosenlied", op. 50 (Sechs Gesänge (Six Songs)) no. 6 (1906) [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille (1861 - 1907), "Rosenlied", op. 29, published 1903 [ three-part women's chorus and piano ], Leipzig, F.E.C. Leuckart; also set in English, also set in English [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Mabel Wheeler Daniels (1878 - 1971) ; composed by Ludwig Wilhelm Andreas Maria Thuille.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Song of the roses", copyright © 2020
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Erkki Pullinen) , "Ruusujen laulu", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Chant des roses", copyright © 2009, (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 between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 17
Word count: 131
We sank our roots into the moss and rock, we cradled our shoulders in the rosy glow, we drank the sunshine, dew, and light, we were resplendent in beauty and did not know it. Spring swept past and kissed us gently, the day became so quiet and the nights so hot, the wind spoke many whispered words of love, a footstep came, an arm carried us away. Who holds our life in her trembling hand? A fragrant white dress is rippling. We see a bosom that moves one to yearning, we hear a heart that beats with passion. Broken by love, brought for love, we greet you, sister, in the silent night. The day that calls you to bloom more gracefully drops our fading beauty into the grave.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- https://www.lieder.net/For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Anna (Nuhn) Ritter (1865 - 1921), "Rosenlied", appears in Befreiung. Neue Gedichte, in 5. Natur, no. 20
This text was added to the website: 2020-02-18
Line count: 16
Word count: 128