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Einstmals in einem tiefen Tal Kukuk und Nachtigall Täten ein Wett' anschlagen: Zu singen um das Meisterstück, Gewinn' es Kunst, gewinn' es Glück: Dank soll er davon tragen. Der Kukuk sprach: "So dir's gefällt, Hab' ich den Richter wählt", Und tät gleich den Esel ernennen. "Denn weil er hat zwei Ohren groß, So kann er hören desto bos Und, was recht ist, kennen!" Sie flogen vor den Richter bald. Wie dem die Sache ward erzählt, Schuf er, sie sollten singen. Die Nachtigall sang lieblich aus! Der Esel sprach: "Du machst mir's kraus! Du machst mir's kraus! I-ja! I-ja! Ich kann's in Kopf nicht bringen!" Der Kukuk drauf fing an geschwind Sein Sang durch Terz und Quart und Quint. Dem Esel g'fiels, er sprach nur "Wart! Wart! Wart! Dein Urteil will ich sprechen, Wohl sungen hast du, Nachtigall! Aber Kukuk, singst gut Choral! Und hältst den Takt fein innen! Das sprech' ich nach mein' hoh'n Verstand! Und kost' es gleich ein ganzes Land, So laß ich's dich gewinnen!"
Text Authorship:
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn [author's text not yet checked 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 Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911), "Lob des hohen Verstands", 1896, published 1899 [ voice and orchestra or piano ], from Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" (formerly "Humoresken"), no. 10 [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Carl Loewe.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Elogi del coneixement superior", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "In praise of higher understanding", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Éloge de la haute sagesse", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Lode all'alta competenza", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elena María Accinelli) , "Alabanza a la mente superior", copyright © 2005, (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: 29
Word count: 167
Una volta in una valle profonda il cucù e l'usignolo fecero una scommessa: cantare un capolavoro, chi vincesse, per arte o per fortuna, ne avrebbe avuto gloria. Il cucù disse: "Se sei d'accordo, io avrei scelto il giudice", e nomina subito l'asino. "Visto che ha due orecchie così grandi, è in grado di sentire benissimo, e quindi riconoscere ciò che è giusto!" E volarono davanti al giudice. Come la cosa gli fu spiegata, decretò che dovevano cantare. L'usignolo cantò in modo meraviglioso! L'asino disse: "Tu mi fai confondere! Tu mi fai confondere! Hi-ha! Hi-ha! Non mi entra in testa!" Il cucù allora cominciò subito il suo canto per terze, quarte e quinte. All'asino piacque, disse solo: "Aspetta! Aspetta! Aspetta! Dico la tua sentenza: tu hai cantato bene, usignolo! Ma tu, cucù, hai cantato un buon corale! E sei andato bene a tempo! Questo io dico per la mia alta sapienza! E, costasse anche un regno intero, io dò a te la vittoria!"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2008 by Amelia Maria Imbarrato, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Amelia Maria Imbarrato. We have no current contact information for the copyright-holder.
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , appears in Des Knaben Wunderhorn
This text was added to the website: 2008-05-28
Line count: 29
Word count: 162