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Ist einer, der nimmt alle in die Hand, daß sie wie Sand durch seine Finger rinnen. Er wählt die schönsten aus den Königinnen und läßt sie sich in weißen Marmor hauen, still liegend in des Mantels Melodie; und legt die Könige zu ihren Frauen, gebildet aus dem gleichen Stein wie sie. Ist einer, der nimmt alle in die Hand, daß sie wie schlechte Klingen sind und brechen. Er ist kein Fremder, denn er wohnt im Blut, das unser Leben ist und rauscht und ruht. Ich kann nicht glauben, daß er Unrecht tut; doch hör ich viele Böses von ihm sprechen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Strophen", appears in Das Buch der Bilder, first published 1920 [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 Axel Borup-Jørgensen (1924 - 2012), "Strophen", op. 39 [ alto and organ ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Antal Doráti, KBE (1906 - 1988), "Stanzas", 1976, first performed 1976 [ mixed chorus ], from Drei Studien, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by John Rodby (b. 1944), "Strophen" [ voice and orchestra ], from Rilkegesangen, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Peter Visser (b. 1939), "Ist einer... (Strophen) ", 1981, from Zes Rilke-liederen, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Strophes", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-05
Line count: 13
Word count: 100
Il en est un qui prend tout dans sa main, et les laisse couler comme du sable entre ses doigts. Il choisit les plus belles des reines et les fait sculpter dans le marbre blanc, couchées en silence dans la mélodie du manteau ; et il couche les rois auprès de leurs femmes, façonnés dans la même pierre qu'elles. Il en est un qui prend tout dans sa main, elles sont comme de mauvaises lames et se brisent. Ce n'est pas un étranger, car il habite dans le sang qui est notre vie et qui court et se calme. Je ne crois pas qu'il fait du tort ; mais j'ai entendu dire beaucoup de mal de lui.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to French (Français) copyright © 2012 by Pierre Mathé, (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 Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Strophen", appears in Das Buch der Bilder, first published 1920
This text was added to the website: 2013-01-18
Line count: 13
Word count: 117