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GUSTAV MAHLER (1860–1911) Das Lied Von Der Erde I. Das Trinklied

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GUSTAV MAHLER (1860–1911) Das Lied Von Der Erde I. Das Trinklied 11-19 SLSO.qxd 11/7/05 4:05 PM Page 2 GUSTAV MAHLER (1860–1911) Das Lied von der Erde The Song of the Earth Texts: based on The Chinese Flute by Li Po and others, translated into German by Hans Bethge (1876–1946) I. Das Trinklied vom Jammer Drinking Song of the Earth’s der Erde Sorrow Text: after Li Po Schon winkt der Wein im goldnen Pokale. The wine in its golden goblet beckons. Doch trinkt noch nicht, erst sing ich euch But drink not yet. I’ll sing you a song first. ein Lied! Das Lied vom Kummer soll auflachend The song of sorrow shall laughingly In die Seele euch klingen. Wenn der Kummer Enter your soul. When sorrow draws near, naht, Liegen wüst die Gärten der Seele, Desolate lie the gardens of the soul, Welkt hin und stirbt die Freude, der Gesang. Joy, song, fade and perish. Dunkel ist das Leben, ist der Tod. Dark is life, is death. Herr dieses Hauses! Lord of this house! Dein Keller birgt die Fülle des goldenen Weins! Your cellar holds golden wine in abundance! Hier diese lange Laute nenn ich mein! Mine I call this lute here! Die Laute schlagen und die Gläser leeren, Striking the lute and draining glasses, Das sind die Dinge, die zusammenpassen. Those are the things which go together. Ein voller Becher Weins zur rechten Zeit A full beaker of wine at the proper time Ist mehr wert als alle Reiche dieser Erde. Is worth more than all the kingdoms of this earth. Dunkel is das Leben, ist der Tod. Dark is life, is death. Das Firmament blaut ewig, und die Erde The sky is forever blue, and the earth Wird lange feststehn und aufblühn im Lenz. Will long stand firm, and blossom in spring. Du aber, Mensch, wie lang lebst denn du? But you, man, how long will you live? Nicht hundert Jahre darfst du dich ergötzen Not a hundred years are you permitted to delight An all dem morschen Tande dieser Erde! In all the brittle vanity of this earth! Seht dort hinab! Look down there! Im Mondschein auf den Gräbern hockt On the graves, in the moonlight, squats Eine wild-gespenstische Gestalt. Ein Aff ist’s! A wild spectral figure. An ape it is! Hört ihr, wie sein Heulen hinausgellt Hear how its howls screech out In den süßen Duft des Lebens! Into the sweet fragrance of life! Jetzt nehmt den Wein! Jetzt ist es Zeit, Take now the wine. Now is the time, Genossen! friends! Leert eure goldnen Becher zu Grund! Drain your golden beakers to the last! Dunkel ist das Leben, ist der Tod. Dark is life, is death. Please do not turn the page until the end of the movement. 3 11-19 SLSO.qxd 11/7/05 4:05 PM Page 4 II. Der Einsame im Herbst The Solitary in Autumn Text: after Tchang Tsi Wie ein Halbmond steht die Brücke, Like a half-moon stands the bridge, Umgekehrt der Bogen. Freunde, Arch reversed. Friends, Herbstnebel wallen bläulich überm See; Bluish above the lake rise autumn mists; Schön gekleidet, trinken, plaudern. Beautifully attired, drink, chat. Vom Reif bezogen stehen alle Gräser. Hoar-frost-clad is all the grass. Man meint, ein Künstler habe Staub von Jade One would think that with jade dust an artist Über die feinen Blüten ausgestreut. Had sprinkled the fine blossoms. IV. Von der Schönheit Of Beauty Text: after Li Po Der süße Duft der Blumen ist verflogen, Gone is the sweet fragrance of flowers, Ein kalter Wind beugt ihre Stengel nieder. A cold wind bends low their stems. Junge Mädchen pflücken Blumen, pflücken Young maidens pluck flowers, lotus flowers Bald werden die verwelkten, goldnen Blätter Soon the faded golden leaves Lotosblumen Der Lotosblüten auf dem Wasser ziehn. Of the lotus will drift upon the water. An dem Uferrande. Zwischen Büschen At the shore’s edge. Amidst shrubs Und Blättern sitzen sie, sammeln And foliage they sit, gather Mein Herz ist müde. Meine kleine Lampe My heart is weary. My tiny lamp Blüten, sammeln Blüten in den Schoß und rufen Blossoms into their laps and call Erlosch mit Knistern, es gemahnt mich an Has spluttered out, reminding me Sich einander Neckereien zu. Teasingly to each other. den Schlaf. of sleep. Ich komm zu dir, traute Ruhestätte! I am coming to you, homely place of rest. Goldne Sonne webt um die Gestalten, Golden sun plays about the figures, Ja gib mir Ruh! Ich hab Erquickung not! Yes, give me rest! I need to be refreshed. Spiegelt sich im blanken Wasser wider, Mirrors itself in the shining water, Sonne spiegelt ihre schlanken Glieder, Mirrors their slender limbs, Ich weine viel in meinen Einsamkeiten, I weep a lot in my solitude, Ihre süßen Augen wider, und der Zephir Their sweet eyes, and the zephyr Der Herbst in meinem Herzen währt zu lange; The autumn in my heart endures too long; Hebt mit Schmeichelkosen das Gewebe With its caresses lifts the fabric Sonne der Liebe, willst du nie mehr scheinen, Sun of Love, will you never more shine Ihrer Ärmel auf, führt den Zauber Of their sleeves, and bears the magic Um meine bittern Tränen mild aufzutrocknen? Gently to dry my bitter tears? Ihrer Wohlgerüche durch die Luft. Of their fragrance through the air. O sieh, was tummeln sich für schöne Knaben Oh see the handsome young men III. Von der Jugend Of Youth Dort an dem Uferrand auf mut’gen Rossen, At the shore’s edge on lively horses, Text: after Li Po Weithin glänzend, wie die Sonnenstrahlen; Shining out like the sun’s rays; Schon zwischen dem Geäst der grünen Weiden Amongst the green willows’ branches Mitten in dem kleinen Teiche In the middle of the small pond Trabt das jungfrische Volk einher! The blithe young men come trotting! Steht ein Pavillon aus grünem Stands a pavilion of green Das Ross des einen wiehert fröhlich auf The steed of one whinnies joyously, Und aus weißem Porzellan. And white porcelain. Und scheut und saust dahin, über Blumen, Shies, races off; over flowers, grasses Gräser Wie der Rücken eines Tigers Like a tiger’s back Wanken hin die Hufe, sie zerstampfen jäh The hooves fly, trampling in their career Wölbt die Brücke sich aus Jade The bridge of jade arches im Sturm Zu dem Pavillon hinüber. Over to the pavilion. Die hingesunk’nen Blüten, The fallen blossoms, Hei! wie flattern im Taumel seine Mähnen, Ah, how its mane streams in the frenzy, In dem Häuschen sitzen Freunde, In this little house sit friends, Dampfen heiß die Nüstern, Its nostrils steam hotly, Schön gekleidet, trinken, plaudern,— Beautifully attired, drink, chat— Goldne Sonne webt um die Gestalten, Golden sun plays about the figures, Manche schreiben Verse nieder. Some write down verses. Spiegelt sie im blanken Wasser wider. Mirrors them in the shining water. Ihre seidnen Ärmel gleiten Their silk sleeves slide Und die schönste von den Jungfraun sendet And the fairest of the maidens sends Rückwärts, ihre seidnen Mützen Up, their silk caps Lange Blicke ihm der Sehnsucht nach. After him long longing glances. Hocken lustig tief im Nacken. Perch merrily back on their heads. Ihre stolze Haltung ist nur Verstellung: Her proud bearing is but a post: In dem Funkeln ihrer großen Augen, In the flash of her wide eyes, Auf des kleinen Teiches stiller On the small pond’s placid In dem Dunkel ihres heißen Blicks In the darkness of her ardent gaze Wasserfläche zeigt sich alles Surface all things are revealed Schwingt klagend noch die Erregung ihres Her heart’s agitation still quivers sadly. Wunderlich im Spiegelbilde: Strangely as mirror images: Herzens nach. Alles auf dem Kopfe stehend, All standing on their heads In dem Pavillon aus grünem In the pavilion of green Und aus weißem Porzellan. And white porcelain. 4 Please do not turn the page until the end of the movement. 5 11-19 SLSO.qxd 11/7/05 4:05 PM Page 6 V. Der Trunkene im Frühling The Drunkard in Spring Alle Sehnsucht will nun träumen, All desire wants now to dream, Text: after Li Po Die müden Menschen gehn heimwärts, um Weary men walk home to learn in sleep im Schlaf Wenn nur ein Traum das Leben ist, If life is but a dream, Vergessnes Glück und Jugend neu zu lernen! Forgotten happiness and youth anew! Warum dann Müh und Plag’? Why, then, toil and torment? Ich trinke, bis ich nicht mehr kann, I drink, until I can no more, Die Vögel hocken still in ihren Zweigen, The birds crouch silently among their twigs, Den ganzen lieben Tag. The livelong day. Die Welt schläft ein … Es wehet kühl im The world falls asleep … Cool it blows in the Schatten meiner Fichten. shadow of my spruces, Und wenn ich nicht mehr trinken kann, And when I can drink no more, Ich stehe hier und harre meines Freundes; Here I stand, awaiting my friend, Weil Kehl’ und Seele voll, Because my gorge and soul are full, Ich harre sein zum letzten Lebewohl. Waiting to bid him a last farewell. So tauml’ ich bis zu meiner Tür I stumble to my door Ich sehne mich, o Freund, an deiner Seite I long, O friend, at your side Und schlafe wundervoll! And I sleep wonderfully! Die Schönheit dieses Abends zu genießen,— To enjoy the beauty of this evening,— Wo bleibst du? Du lässt mich lang allein! Where are you? You leave me long alone! Was hör ich beim Erwachen? Horch, And, waking, what do I hear? Hark, Ein Vogel singt im Baum. A bird sings in the tree.
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