Herbst

Die Blätter fallen, fallen wie von weit, 
als welkten in den Himmeln ferne Gärten; 
sie fallen mit verneinender Gebärde. 
Und in den Nächten fällt die schwere Erde 
aus allen Sternen in die Einsamkeit. 
Wir alle fallen. Diese Hand da fällt. 
Und sieh die andre an: es ist in allen. 
Und doch ist einer, welcher dieses Fallen 
unendlich sanft in seinen Händen hält.

by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) , "Herbst", from Das Buch der Bilder

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Elizabeth R. Austin (1938-) , "Herbst" [medium voice and piano], from Drei Rilke-Lieder, no. 2.
by Gary Bachlund , "Herbst", 2008 [mezzo-soprano and piano], from Zwei Rilke-lieder, no. 1.
by Henk Badings (1907-1987) , "Herbst", from Fünf Rilke-Lieder, no. 2.
by Conrad Beck (1901-1989) , "Herbst" [voice and piano or organ], from Drei Herbstgesänge, no. 3.
by Wim Franken (1922-) , "Herbst", 1959, from Zes Rilke-liederen, no. 6.
by Franz Krause (1889-?) , "Herbst", op. 47 no. 5, published 1972?, from Sechs Gedichte von Rainer Maria Rilke, no. 5.
by Ignace Lilien (1897-1964) , "Herbst", 1923.
by Léon Orthel (1905-1985) , "Herbst", op. 87 no. 3 (1980), from Herfst, no. 3.
by Peter Visser (1939-) , "Herbst", 1981, from Zes Rilke-liederen, no. 3.

by Lee Hoiby (1926-) , "Autumn", 1979, from Songs for Leontyne, no. 3.

ENG English (John H. Campbell)
ENG English (Bertram Kottmann)
ENG English (Walter A. Aue)
ENG English (Bertram Kottmann)
ENG English (Gary Bachlund)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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