German text of Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody Op. 53
The text of Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53. The text is in German and is from Harzreise im Winter by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. English translation to follow.
J. Brahms
Rhapsodie für Alt, Männerchor und Orchester, op. 53
Aber abseits wer ist’s?
Im Gebüsch verliert sich der Pfad.
Hinter ihm schlagen
Die Sträuche zusammen,
Das Gras steht wieder auf,
Die Öde verschlingt ihn.
Ach, wer heilet die Schmerzen
Des, dem Balsam zu Gift ward?
Der sich Menschenhass
Aus der Fülle der Liebe trank?
Erst verachtet, nun ein Verächter,
Zehrt er heimlich auf
Seinen eigenen Wert
In ungenügender Selbstsucht
Ist auf deinem Psalter,
Vater der Liebe, ein Ton
Seinem Ohre vernehmlich,
So erquicke sein Herz!
Öffne den umwölkten Blick
Über die tausend Quellen
Neben dem Durstenden
In der Wüste!
Your timing in posting this text is impeccable. Two days later, I am searching the web for it, and there it is… Standing by for the English translation as I listen… Many thanks.
Thanks, though it may be a while before I get a translation posted. I am going to try to post translations of the texts of four of Brahms’s shorter choral works.
Well Peta: (probably you posted your comment on the Brahms Alto Rhapsody Eng. translation 1 1/2 years ago) I am waiting to see Barry Mitchell’s post of this Eng. translation of Op. 53 in Jan. of 2012. I am playing an organ arr. of the final Adagio section of said Alto Rhapsody, and I think I have a very close idea of what the Eng. trans. should be; if nothing else, I will list that in the program for Jan. 20, 2012, here in Sussex County, DE, So. DE chap. of the American Guild of Organists; Stephen W. Klyce, AAGO, Ch.M.
Looks like you are a real professional. Did you study about the issue? hrhr
I try to keep up with things. I’ve now put my Linkedin profile on the blog so that people can see my background if they are interested.
Oh my god enjoyed reading this blogpost. I submitted your feed to my reader.
Brahms Alto Rhapsoy Op. 53; My Q. it says in your writeup above the German Text: English text to follow — where is the Eng. text? Stephen Klyce; stephenklyce@yahoo.com
You list Eng. translation to follow just above giving the Goethe German text of Brahms’ Alto Rhapsoy, Op. 53; where is the Eng. translation? Not visible here.
Thanks for reminding me I still have to do this. I haven’t been able to make more than a couple of posts in 2011 but I have plans to make a lot more posts in 2012 and adding this translation is now on my to-do list.
A few typos:
Aber abseits wer ist’s
Zehrt er heimlich auf
Seinem Ohre vernehmlich
Thanks for pointing this out, I have made the changes you suggest.
Mein Gott, ist das schön und von unendlicher Tiefe. Wie sehr doch die Musik die Wirkung des Texts noch verstärkt!