Aus unendlichen Sehnsüchten steigen endliche Taten wie schwache Fontänen, die sich zeitig und zitternd neigen. Aber, die sich uns sonst verschweigen, unsere fröhlichen Kräfte - zeigen sich in diesen tanzenden Tränen.
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Text Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Initiale", appears in Das Buch der Bilder, first published 1920 [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 Henk Badings (1907 - 1987), "Initiale", from Fünf Rilke-Lieder, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Bernard Foccroulle (b. 1953), "Aus unendlichen Sehnsüchten", 2007 [ chorus ], from Am Rande der Nacht I, no. 2, Ricordi [sung text not yet checked]
- by Siegfried Matthus (1934 - 2021), "Aus unendlichen Sehnsüchten", published 1995 [ voice and orchestra ], from Wiesen von Liebe, Leben und Tod, no. 3, Breitkopf & Härtl [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl-Heinz Schäfer (1899 - 1970), "Initiale - Herbst", 1923/1959 [ soprano and orchestra ], from Dunkle Lieder , no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Walter Willig (b. 1935), "Initiale" [ baritone and piano ], from Fünf Lieder nach Gedichten von Rainer Maria Rilke, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Winfried (Petrus Ignatius) Zillig (1905 - 1963), "Initiale " [ men's chorus and piano ], from Lieder des Herbstes nach Gedichten von Rainer Maria Rilke, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Alfred Kunz.
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Go to the text. [Note: the text is not in the database yet.]
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Jessie Lemont (1872 - 1947) , "Symbols" ; composed by Jacob Narverud.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Initiale", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-07
Line count: 6
Word count: 30
From infinite longings finite deeds rise As fountains spring toward far-off glowing skies, But rushing swiftly upward weakly bend And trembling from their lack of power descend— So through the falling torrent of our fears Our joyous force leaps like these dancing tears.
Confirmed with Rainer Maria Rilke, Poems, New York : Tobias A. Wright, 1918, p.38
Text Authorship:
- by Jessie Lemont (1872 - 1947), "Symbols" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Initiale", appears in Das Buch der Bilder, first published 1920
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Jacob Narverud (b. 1986), "Symbols", copyright © 2021 [ mixed chorus and piano ], Santa Barbara Music Publishing [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-10-11
Line count: 6
Word count: 43