The greatest challenge is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Herman Hesse and Joseph Eichendorff Poems were set to the Music of Richard Stauss

Springtime  (Frühling ~Herman Hesse)

In twilit caverns
I dreamed long
of your trees and blue skies,
your fragrance and birdsong.

Now you lie revealed
in glistening splendor,
bathed in light
like a miracle before me.

You know me once more;
you beckon me tenderly
My whole body trembles
at your divine presence.


When Going to Sleep (Beim Schlafengehen ~Herman Hesse)

Now that I feel the tiredness of
the day,
my deep longing shall
welcome the starlit night
as a weary child does.

Hands, cease your toiling,
head, forget about thinking,
for all my senses now
are longing to sink themselves in
slumber.

And the unguarded spirit
wants to float on free wings, so that
in the magic circle of the night
it may live deeply and a thousandfold.


September  (Herman Hesse)

The garden is in mourning.
Cool falls the rain upon the
flowers.

Summer shudders, quietly
to its end.

Leaf after golden leaf drops
down from the high acacia tree.

Summer smiles, surprised and weary
upon the dying dream of this garden.

Yet still it lingers by the roses,
longing for rest.
Then slowly closes its great
weary eyes.



Evening's Glow  (Im Abendrot ~ Joseph Eichendorff)

Through trouble and joy we have
walked hand in hand;
we can rest from our wanderings
now, above the peaceful country-side.

The valleys fall away around us,
the sky is already darkening,
Only a pair of larks still rise
dreamily into the scented air.

Come here, and let them fly
For soon it will be time to sleep
and we must not lose our way
in this solitude.

O broad, contented peace!
So deep in the sunset glow,
How exhausted we are with our
wanderings—
can this then be death?