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Das Leben ist ein Traum, Man merkt, man fühlt [ihn]1 kaum; Denn schnell, wie Wolken ziehn, Ist dieser Traum dahin. Wohl dem, der gut geträumt, Wohl dem! deß Saat hier keimt, Zur Erndte für die Zeit Der Unvergänglichkeit. Das Leben ist der Blick Auf einer Zukunft Glück, Das jeder haben kann, Der hier es wohlgethan. Wohl dem! der nach der Nacht Des Grabes froh erwacht, Den nicht die Stimme schreckt, Die aus dem Schlummer weckt. Wer bey der Arbeit Schluß Die Rechnung fürchten muß, Hat wahrlich keinen Blick Auf einer Zukunft Glück.
H. Behling sets stanzas 1, 2, 4
1 Behling: "es"
Authorship:
- by Johann Christoph Wannovius (1753 - 1814) [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 Heinrich Behling (1793 - 1854), "Das Leben", published c1840, stanzas 1,2,4 [ voice, piano ], Vier Lieder für eine Bariton-Stimme mit Begleitung des Pianoforte. Reval: Kluge [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "Das Leben", D 269 (1815), published 1849, two versions (vocal trio TTB; vocal trio SSA with piano) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "La vida", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Het leven is een droom", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Life is a dream", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "La vie est un rêve", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 92
La vie est un rêve, Qu'on remarque ou ressent à peine ; Car rapide comme des nuages qui passent Ce rêve est parti. Heureux celui qui a bien rêvé, Heureux celui dont les graines ont mûri ici Pour la moisson pour le temps De l'éternité. La vie est un instant D'un bonheur futur Que peut avoir quiconque Qui a fait le bien ici. Heureux celui qui après la nuit De la tombe se réveille joyeusement, Qui n'est pas effrayé par la voix Qui le réveille du sommeil. Celui qui à la fin de son travail Doit craindre le jugement, N'aura en vérité aucun instant Du bonheur futur.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2011 by Guy Laffaille, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Christoph Wannovius (1753 - 1814)
This text was added to the website: 2011-11-06
Line count: 20
Word count: 107