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by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945)
Translation © by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947)

Abel
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG FRE
Kains Augen sind nicht gottwohlgefällig,
Ables Angesicht ist ein goldener Garten,
Abels Augen sind Nachtigallen.
 
Immer singt Abel so hell
Zu den Saiten seiner Seele,
Aber durch Kains Leib führen die Gräben der Stadt.
 
Und er wird seinen Bruder erschlagen --
Abel, Abel, dein Blut färbt den Himmel tief.
 
Wo ist Kain, da ich ihn stürmen will:
Hast du die Süßvogel erschlagen
In deines Bruders Angesicht?!!

Text Authorship:

  • by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945), "Abel", appears in Hebräische Balladen, no. 7, first published 1913 [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 Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Abel", 2009 [ mezzo-soprano and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Peter Bares (1936 - 2014), "Abel", op. 381 (1964), first performed 1964 [ baritone and harp ], from Lieder zur Harfe, no. 9 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Hans Ebert (1889 - 1952), "Abel", op. 29 no. 16 (1926-1927), first performed 1928 [ voice and instrumental ensemble ], from Biblische Balladen. Eine Folge von 19 Gesängen für eine Singstimme, Hoboe, Klarinette, Saxophon und Streichquintett, no. 16, missing? [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Wilhelm Keller (1920 - 2008), "Abel", 1961, first performed 1965 [ mezzo-soprano and organ; or baritone and piano ], from Versöhnung. Zwölf hebräische Balladen, no. 7 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Gilead Mishory (b. 1960), "Abel", 2001-2002, first performed 2003 [ voice and piano ], from Hebräische Balladen, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Wilhelm Rettich (1892 - 1988), "Abel", op. 26a no. 2 [ voice and piano ], from Else Lasker-Schüler Zyklus , no. 2, Book I -- Hebräische Balladen [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Bernhard Rövenstrunck (1920 - 2010), "Abel", 1944/1959 [ mezzo-soprano, tenor, and piano ], from 20 Hebräische Balladen für Mezzosopran, Tenor und Klavier, no. 7 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Frank Scholzen (b. 1968), "Abel", 1993 [ high voice and instrumental ensemble ], from Komposition für hohe Singstimme und sieben Instrumente (mit Dirigent), no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Gil Shohat (b. 1973), "Abel", 2000, first performed 2002 [ soprano, chorus, orchestra ], from Eine deutsche Symphonie = Symphony No. 5 nach Gedichten von Else Lasker-Schüler for Soprano, Child’s Voice, Choir and Orchestra. »The Portrait of Else Lasker-Schüler«, no. 10 [sung text not yet checked]
  • by Sybil Westendorp (1910 - 1999), "Abel", 1979 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]

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

  • ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "Abel", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Abel", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Karl Bellenberg [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-15
Line count: 11
Word count: 65

Abel
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Cain's eyes are not pleasing to God,
Abel's face is a golden garden,
Abel's eyes are nightingales.

Always Abel sings brightly
To the strings of his soul,
But through Cain's act is a people led to the grave.

And he will strike his brother down --
Abel, Abel, your blood colors heaven deeply.

Where is Cain, that I might attack him:
Have you struck down the sweet birds
In your brother's face?

Text Authorship:

  • by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Abel", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Based on:

  • a text in German (Deutsch) by Else Lasker-Schüler (1869 - 1945), "Abel", appears in Hebräische Balladen, no. 7, first published 1913
    • Go to the text page.

 
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-15
Line count: 11
Word count: 71

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