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Wenn ich durch Busch und Zweig Brech' auf beschränktem Steig: Wird mir so weit, so frei, Will mir das Herz entzwei. Rings dann im Waldeshaus Rücken die Wänd' hinaus, Wölbt sich das Laubgemach Hoch mir zum Schwindeldach, Webt sich der Blätter schier Jedes zur Schwinge mir, Daß sich mein Herz, so weit, Sehnt nach Unendlichkeit! Doch wann [in weitem]1 Raum Hoch am Gebirgessaum, Ueber dem Thal' ich steh', Nieder zum Thale seh' Ach! wie beschränkt, wie eng Wird mir's im Luftgedräng; Rings auf mein Haupt, so schwer, Nicken die Wolken her, Niederzustürzen droht Rings mir das Abendroth, Und in ein Kämmerlein Sehnt sich mein Herz hinein!
Confirmed with Joh. Gabr. Seidl's Dichtungen. Erster Theil. Balladen, Romanzen, Sagen und Lieder, von Johann Gabriel Seidl. Wien. Druck und Verlag von J. P. Sollinger. 1826, pages 191-192; and with Joh. Gabr. Seidl's gesammelte Schriften. Mit einer Einleitung von Julius von der Traun. Herausgegeben von Hans Max. Erster Band. Wien, 1877. Wilhelm Braumüller k.k. Hof- und Universitätsbuchdrucker, pages 179-180.
1 Schubert: "im weiten"Authorship:
- by Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804 - 1875), "Widerspruch" [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 Benedikt Randhartinger (1802 - 1893), "Widerspruch", op. 18 (Vier Gedichte) no. 4 [ voice and piano ], Wien: Mechetti [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Widerspruch", op. 105 (Vier Lieder) no. 1, D 865 (1826?), published 1828, first performed 1828 [ ttbb chorus and piano ], Josef Czerny, VN 329, Wien [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Contradicció", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Tegenstrijdigheid", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Contradiction", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Contradiction", copyright © 2010, (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: 24
Word count: 106
When through bush and branch I strike out for the narrow climb, it becomes so wide for me - so free - that my heart nearly bursts in two. Around this forest house then the walls recede and a leafy chamber arches high above me, a roof of dizzying height. Nearly every leaf is interwoven into a wing for me, so that my heart yearns deeply for infinity. Yet when in wide spaces high on the mountain edge, over the valley I stand and gaze toward it. Oh, how restricted, how narrow, it becomes for me in the oppressive air; Around my head so heavy the clouds nod down; Threatening to crash down, the sunset surrounds me; and in a little chamber does my heart long to be.
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,
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Gabriel Seidl (1804 - 1875), "Widerspruch"
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 128