Auf dem Kirchhofe
German source:
Detlev von Liliencron
Ich war an manch vergeßnem Grab gewesen.
Verwittert Stein und Kreuz, die Kränze alt,
Die Namen überwachsen, kaum zu lesen.
Der Tag ging sturmbewegt und regenschwer,
Auf allen Gräbern fror das Wort: Gewesen.
Wie sturmestot die Särge schlummerten—
Auf allen Gräbern taute still: Genesen.
In the Churchyard
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
I had stood by many a forgotten grave.
Weathered stones and crosses, faded wreaths,
The names overgrown, scarcely to be read.
The day was heavy with storms and rains,
On each grave froze the word: Deceased.
How the coffins slumbered, dead to the storm—
Silent dew on each grave proclaimed: Released.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Auf dem Kirchhofe
German source:
Detlev von Liliencron
In the Churchyard
English source:
Richard Stokes
Der Tag ging regenschwer und sturmbewegt,
The day was heavy with rain and storms,
Ich war an manch vergeßnem Grab gewesen.
I had stood by many a forgotten grave.
Verwittert Stein und Kreuz, die Kränze alt,
Weathered stones and crosses, faded wreaths,
Die Namen überwachsen, kaum zu lesen.
The names overgrown, scarcely to be read.
Der Tag ging sturmbewegt und regenschwer,
The day was heavy with storms and rains,
Auf allen Gräbern fror das Wort: Gewesen.
On each grave froze the word: Deceased.
Wie sturmestot die Särge schlummerten—
How the coffins slumbered, dead to the storm—
Auf allen Gräbern taute still: Genesen.
Silent dew on each grave proclaimed: Released.
Composer
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna. Brahms has been considered, by his…
Poet
Detlev von Liliencron
Liliencron first attracted attention by the volume of poems, Adjutantenritte und andere Gedichte (1883), which was followed by several unsuccessful dramas, a volume of short stories, Eine Sommerschlacht (1886), and a novel Breide…
Performances
Upcoming Performances
- Gerhaher and Huber 16 Oct 2024
Previously performed at:
- Song at Wolfson: Nazan Fikret & Sholto Kynoch - On this Island 11 May 2023
- Song at Fairlight Hall: Nazan Fikret & Sholto Kynoch - On this Island 07 May 2023
- 76. Dame Sarah Connolly, Eugene Asti: Brahms, Schumann, Mahler 29 Oct 2022
- 67. Dorothea Röschmann, Malcolm Martineau: Schumann Liederkreis 27 Oct 2022
- 62. Christoph Prégardien and Michael Gees: Brahms, Mahler and Schubert 26 Oct 2022
- 15. Elizabeth Llewellyn & Simon Lepper: Coleridge-Taylor & Friends 17 Oct 2022
- 26. Konstantin Krimmel: Heine, Schumann & Brahms 12 Oct 2021
- Brahms, Martin & Ravel: Milan Siljanov & Nino Chokhonelidze 24 Oct 2018
- Tallinn to St Petersburg: Kai Rüütel & Roger Vignoles 17 Oct 2018
- Mastercourse Concert 28 Oct 2017
- Brahms & Wolf: Ian Bostridge & Julius Drake 24 Oct 2017
- Mastercourse Day One 23 Oct 2017
- Brahms's Late Idyll 17 Oct 2017
- A Woman's Love & Life: Juliane Banse & Marcelo Amaral 21 Oct 2016