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Mein Geist ist trüb', den Ton der Saiten, Den jetzt mein wildes Herz erträgt, Laß ihn in meine Ohren gleiten, Von deiner Finger Kunst erregt. Wenn einen Wunsch mein Herz gepflegt, In diesem Ton wird Hoffnung blühen, Die Träne, die das Auge hegt, Wird fließen, statt im Hirn zu glühen. Doch wild und tief mußt du beginnen, Mit keinem Ton, der freudig klingt. In Thränen muß mir das zerrinnen, Wovon [das Herz]1 mir sonst zerspringt. Denn daß es sich zum Schweigen zwingt, Sich nur von Kummer nährt, ist lange; Und jetzt, wo es so schrecklich ringt, Jetzt bricht es, oder schmilzt in Klange.
Authorship:
- by Franz Theremin (1780 - 1846), "Mein Geist ist trüb'", appears in Hebräische Gesänge, first published 1820 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "My soul is dark", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 9, adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23, first published 1815
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Hugo Brückler (1845 - 1871), "Mein Geist ist trüb", <<1871 [ voice and piano ], from Acht Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte, no. 3, Dresden, Hoffarth [sung text not yet checked]
- by Joseph Gall , "Mein Geist ist trüb", op. 30 (Zwölf hebräische Original-Melodien von Byron) no. 3, published 1871 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Schlesinger [sung text not yet checked]
- by M. Henle , "Mein Geist ist trüb", op. 4 no. 4, published 1897 [ voice and piano ], from Hebräische Gesänge nach jüdischen Melodien, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869), "Mein Geist ist trüb", op. 5 no. 5 [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "My spirit is dull", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 103
My spirit is dull, the sound of the strings, Which my wild heart can now bear, Let it glide into my ears, Arising from the artistry of your fingers. If there be one wish my heart has cherished In this sound hope shall blossom, The tear that my eye harbours, Shall flow instead of smouldering in my brain. But you must begin wildly and deeply, With no sound that rings out happily. In tears must melt for me that which Otherwise would cause my heart to burst. For the time during which it has been forcing itself to be silent, To feed only on anguish, is long; And now, when it is wrestling so dreadfully, Now it must either break or dissolve in sound.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2010 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Franz Theremin (1780 - 1846), "Mein Geist ist trüb'", appears in Hebräische Gesänge, first published 1820
Based on:
- a text in English by George Gordon Noel Byron, Lord Byron (1788 - 1824), "My soul is dark", appears in Hebrew Melodies, no. 9, adaptation of I Samuel 16:14-23, first published 1815
This text was added to the website: 2010-06-13
Line count: 16
Word count: 124