Geisterchor | In der Tiefe wohnt das Licht

by Wilhelmina Christiane von Chézy, née Klencke (1783 - 1856)

In der Tiefe wohnt das Licht

Language: German (Deutsch)

Available translation(s): DUT ENG FRE

In der Tiefe wohnt das Licht.
Licht, das leuchtet und entzündet,
Wer das Licht des Lichtes findet,
Braucht des eitlen Wissens nicht.

Wer vom Licht sich abgewendet,
Der bewillkommt froh die Nacht,
Daß sie seltne Gabe spendet,
Ihn belohnt mit dunkler Macht.

Mische, sinne, wirke, strebe,
Mühe dich du Erdensohn,
Daß zu fein nicht dein Gewebe,
Und der Tat nicht gleich der Lohn.

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: The libretto of Chézy's initial version of her play, with the title Rosamunde, Fürstinn von Cypern, which was staged in 1823 in Vienna with Schubert's music, is lost. This original version of the play comprises 4 acts. The manuscript of a revised version of Rosamunde in 5 acts has lately been discovered and published (Till Gerrit Waidelich, 1996). The Geisterchor (Chor aus der Tiefe) set by Schubert has been omitted from the revised version.

Text Authorship:

by Wilhelmina Christiane von Chézy, née Klencke (1783 - 1856), no title [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 Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Geisterchor", alternate title: "Chor aus der Tiefe", op. 26 no. 3, D 797 no. 4 (1823), published 1832, first performed 1823 [ ttbb chorus with horns and trombones ], from the incidental music to Rosamunde, no. 4, Diabelli & Co., VN 3532, Wien (version for chorus and piano) [sung text checked 1 time]

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

Research team for this page: Bertram Kottmann , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2008-09-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 63

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