by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Römische Fontäne
Language: German (Deutsch)
Zwei Becken, eins das andere übersteigend aus einem alten runden Marmorrand, und aus dem oberen Wasser leis sich neigend zum Wasser, welches unten wartend stand, dem leise redenden entgegenschweigend und heimlich, gleichsam in der hohlen Hand, ihm Himmel hinter Grün und Dunkel zeigend wie einen unbekannten Gegenstand; sich selber ruhig in der schönen Schale verbreitend ohne Heimweh, Kreis aus Kreis, nur manchmal träumerisch und tropfenweis sich niederlassend an den Moosbehängen zum letzten Spiegel, der sein Becken leis von unten lächeln macht mit Übergängen.
Text Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Römische Fontäne", subtitle: "Borghese", written 1906 [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 Thomas Bloch-Bonhoff (b. 1971), "Römische Fontäne" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Thomas Böttger (b. 1957), "Römische Fontäne", 1980/81, first performed 1982/1983 [ high voice and piano or orchestra ], from 5 Rilke-Lieder, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Violeta Ileana Dinescu (b. 1953), "Römische Fontäne" [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joachim Gies , "Römische Fontäne" [ voice and saxophone ], from In Spiegelbildern, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wilhelm Klepper (b. 1924), "Römische Fontäne", 2000 [ soprano and piano ], from Sechs Lieder, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Julius Marx (1897 - 1985), "Römische Fontäne", op. 50 no. 2a (1949) [ voice and piano ], from Das Karussell und andere Rilke-Gedichte, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Benedict Mason (b. 1954), "Römische Fontäne", 1991 - 1992, first performed 1992 [ soprano, instrumental ensemble and electronics ], from Rilke Songs, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Aaro Pertmann (b. 1971), "Römische Fontäne", 2021/2022 [ baritone, piano ], from La Belle Epoque, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Martin Seith-Böhm (b. 1958), "Römische Fontäne", 2002 [ mixed chorus ] [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Gabriel Marghieri.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-07-31
Line count: 14
Word count: 83
La fontaine romaine
Language: French (Français) after the German (Deutsch)
Deux bassins, dont l’un dépasse l’autre de son rebord antique de marbre arrondi et de celui d’en haut l’eau se penche doucement sur l’eau qui en bas attend, offrant son silence à l’autre qui parle bas, il lui montre en secret, comme au creux de la main cet objet inconnu caché derrière les feuillages et les ombres : le ciel, s’étendant tranquille dans la belle coquille, de cercle en cercle, sans nostalgie, parfois rêveuse et se laissant couler goutte à goutte parmi les mousses et lichens jusqu’aux derniers miroirs qui doucement d’en bas font sourire dans le clair-obscur le bassin.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Römische Fontäne", subtitle: "Borghese", written 1906
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gabriel Marghieri (b. 1964), "La fontaine romaine" [ speaker and piano ], from Par-dessus l'abîme [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-12-21
Line count: 14
Word count: 99