Nachklang

Es klingt so prächtig, wenn der Dichter
Der Sonne bald dem Kaiser sich vergleicht;
Doch er verbirgt die traurigen Gesichter,
Wenn er in düstern Nächten schleicht.

Von Wolken streifenhaft befangen,
Versank zu Nacht des Himmels reinstes Blau;
Vermagert [bleich]1 sind meine Wangen
Und meine Herzenstränen grau. 

Laß mich nicht so [der]2 Nacht, [dem Schmerze,]3
Du Alllerliebstes, du mein Mondgesicht! 
O du mein Phosphor, meine Kerze,
Du meine Sonne, du mein Licht!

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) , "Nachklang", 1815, from West-östlicher Diwan, in Suleika Nameh -- Buch Suleika

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

by Hanns Eisler (1898-1962) , "Goethe-Fragment", 1953, stanza 2 and stanza 3 (lines 1-2).
by Ernst Pepping (1901-1981) , "Nachklang", 1946, published 1949 [voice and piano], from Haus- und Trostbuch, no. 31.
by Othmar Schoeck (1886-1957) , "Nachklang", op. 19b no. 1 (1915).

ENG English [singable] (Florence T. Jameson)
FRE French (Pierre Mathé)

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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Remembrance

It sounds so splendid when the poet 
compares himself to the emperor, or the sun;
yet is he fain to hide his head, crestfallen, 
creeping through darkness drear and dun.

By trailing clouds trailing over,
to darkness turned is Heaven's purest blue,
my hollow cheeks are gray and ashen,
and gray my heartrung tears are too.

Leave me not so to gloom, and sorrow, 
thou best belovèd, thou my moon of night,
O thou my shining lamp, my candle,
O thou my sunshine, thou my light!

Singable translation by Florence T. Jameson , "Remembrance"

a text in German by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) , "Nachklang", 1815, from West-östlicher Diwan, in Suleika Nameh -- Buch Suleika FRE

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

[ None yet in the database ]

Date added to the website: 2008-04-03.