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Sagt es niemand, nur den Weisen, Weil die Menge gleich verhöhnet, Das Lebend'ge will ich preisen, Das nach Flammentod sich sehnet. In der Liebesnächte Kühlung, Die dich zeugte, wo du zeugtest, Überfällt dich fremde Fühlung, Wenn die stille Kerze leuchtet. Nicht mehr bleibest du umfangen In der Finsternis Beschattung, Und dich reißet neu Verlangen Auf zu höherer Begattung. Keine Ferne macht dich schwierig, Kommst geflogen und gebannt, Und zuletzt, des Lichts begierig, Bist du, Schmetterling, verbrannt. Und so lang du das nicht hast, Dieses: Stirb und werde! Bist du nur ein trüber Gast Auf der dunklen Erde. Tut ein Schilf sich doch hervor, Welten zu versüßen! Möge meinem Schreibe-Rohr Liebliches entfließen!
E. Pepping sets stanzas 1-5
P. Even sets stanzas 1-5
K. Zelter sets stanzas 1-5 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
R. Ruiz sets stanzas 1-5
R. Gawlick sets stanza 5
Text Authorship:
- by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", written 1814, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 1. Buch des Sängers -- Moganni Nameh, first published 1816 [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 Pierre Even (b. 1946), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 53 (2012), first performed 2012, stanzas 1-5 [ baritone and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Friedrich Gulda (1930 - 2000), "Selige Sehnsucht", 1973 [ voice and instrumental ensemble (jazz trio) ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Emil Mattiesen (1875 - 1939), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 3 ([Acht] Lieder und Gesänge) no. 2 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Arnold Mendelssohn (1855 - 1933), "Selige Sehnsucht", published 1910 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Ernst Pepping (1901 - 1981), "Selige Sehnsucht", 1946, published 1949, stanzas 1-5 [ voice and piano ], from Haus- und Trostbuch, no. 12 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Wilhelm Petersen (1890 - 1957), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 40 (Goethe-Lieder) no. 9, published 1941 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hermann Reutter (1900 - 1985), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 73 (Sechs Gedichte aus der "westöstliche Divan") no. 1 (1951) [ duet ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wolfgang Michael Rihm (1952 - 2024), "Selige Sehnsucht", 2004-7, first performed 2007 [ baritone and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Rodrigo Ruiz , "Selige Sehnsucht", R 7 no. 1 (2017), stanzas 1-5 [ soprano and piano ], from Goethe-Lieder: a song set after the master poet, no. 1, Universal Edition [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Othmar Schoeck (1886 - 1957), "Selige Sehnsucht", op. 19b no. 6 (1911) [ voice and piano ], from Lieder aus dem Westöstlichen Diwan von Goethe, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", 1820, published 1826 [ vocal quartet of male voices ], Berlin, T. Trautwein; in Tafel-Lieder für Männerstimmen: Für die Liedertafel zu Berlin, von Carl Fried. Zelter. Heft V [sung text not yet checked]
- by Karl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", Z. 127 no. 4, published 1826, stanzas 1-5 [ bass and piano ], from Sechs deutsche Lieder für die Bass-Stimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte, no. 4, Berlin: T. Trautwein [sung text checked 1 time]
The text above (or a part of it) is used in the following settings:
- by Ralf Yusuf Gawlick (b. 1969), "Ruf des Todes (1937)", op. 19 no. 5b (2012-2013) [ soprano, unaccompanied ], from Kollwitz-Konnex (…im Frieden seiner Hände), song cycle for soprano & guitar, no. 5b
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Blissful yearning", copyright ©
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Rodrigo Ruiz) , "Bendito anhelo", copyright © 2022, (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: 24
Word count: 111
Tell this to no one but the wise, for the masses will just ridicule it: I would praise the living thing that yearns for death in the flames. In the cool hush of nights of love, when you conceive as you were conceived, a strange feeling overcomes you when the quiet candle gleams. No longer do you remain captive in the darkness of these shadows; and a new desire rips you toward a loftier intercourse. No distance can make you heavy: you come flying and spellbound, and at last, eager for the light, poor moth, you are burned to death. And so long as you have not attained it, this, "Die and become!", you will only be a gloomy guest on this dark earth. Pick up a pipe for yourself to make the world a little sweeter! May it lovingly chase away my writing-pipe!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust
Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet ArchiveFor any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832), "Selige Sehnsucht", written 1814, appears in West-östlicher Divan, in 1. Buch des Sängers -- Moganni Nameh, first published 1816
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 145