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It’s now easier than ever to see both the author's and the composer's versions of a text!

After more than a year in development, I'm thrilled to announce that we've finally implemented the ability to view "sung texts" with all the modifications by a given composer already applied. Over 10,000 pages will benefit from this improvement. It should especially benefit those of you who need accurate texts for concert programs and CD booklets.

I'm excited to share this new feature with all of you and hope that it enhances your experience on the LiederNet Archive. Take some time to explore and enjoy! — Emily

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by (Gottlob Ferdinand) Max(imilian) Gottfried von Schenkendorf (1783 - 1817)
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Todessehnen
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  CAT DUT ENG FRE ITA
Ach, wer nimmt von meiner Seele
Die geheime, schwere Last,
Die, je mehr ich sie verhehle,
Immer mächtiger mich faßt?

Möchtest du nur endlich brechen,
Mein gequältes, banges Herz!
Findest hier mit deinen Schwächen,
Deiner Liebe, nichts als Schmerz.

Dort nur wirst du ganz genesen,
Wo der Sehnsucht nichts mehr fehlt,
Wo das schwesterliche Wesen
Deinem Wesen sich vermählt.

Hör' es, Vater in der Höhe,
Aus der Fremde fleht dein Kind:
Gib', daß er mich bald umwehe,
Deines Todes Lebenswind.

Daß er zu dem Stern mich hebe,
Wo man keine Trennung kennt,
Wo die Geistersprache Leben
Mit der Liebe Namen nennt.

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):

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Desig de morir", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Doodsverlangen", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Yearning for death", copyright ©
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Désir de la mort", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Desiderio di morte", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 101

Yearning for death
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Ah, who will take from my soul
 this secret, heavy burden
 that, the more I conceal,
 the more strongly it grips me?

 Don't you wish finally to break
 my tormented, anguished heart?
 You find here with your weaknesses,
 that your love is nothing but pain.

 You will only become fully healthy
 when you no longer lack the things you yearn for,
 when a sisterly nature
 becomes wedded to your own nature.

 Hear me, Father in the Heavens,
 In a foreign land, your child is pleading:
 Grant that he will surround me
 with the life-giving wind of Your death.

 That he will raise me to the stars,
 where one knows nothing of separation,
 where the spirit-language gives Life
 the name of Love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 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.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 121