Das Abendrot
German source:
Schreiber, Aloys
Der Himmel will in Glanz zerrinnen;
So scheiden Märtyrer von hinnen,
Hold lächelnd in dem Liebestod.
Des Aufgangs Berge still und grau,
Am Grab des Tags die hellen Gluten;
Der Schwan auf purpurroten Fluten,
Und jeder Halm im Silbertau!
O Sonne, Gottesstrahl, du bist
Nie herrlicher, als im Entfliehen!
Du willst uns gern hinüberziehen,
Wo deines Glanzes Urquell ist.
Sunset
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
The sky melts into radiance.
Thus do martyrs depart this life,
serenely smiling as they die for their love.
At dawn the mountains are grey and silent,
the flames glow brightly at the day’s grave;
the swan glides on crimson waters
and every blade is bathed in silver dew.
O sun, light of God, you are
never more glorious than when you go down!
You would gladly draw us with you
to the source of your radiance.
Das Abendrot
German source:
Schreiber, Aloys
Sunset
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Du heilig, glühend Abendrot!
Sacred, glowing sunset.
Der Himmel will in Glanz zerrinnen;
The sky melts into radiance.
So scheiden Märtyrer von hinnen,
Thus do martyrs depart this life,
Hold lächelnd in dem Liebestod.
serenely smiling as they die for their love.
Des Aufgangs Berge still und grau,
At dawn the mountains are grey and silent,
Am Grab des Tags die hellen Gluten;
the flames glow brightly at the day’s grave;
Der Schwan auf purpurroten Fluten,
the swan glides on crimson waters
Und jeder Halm im Silbertau!
and every blade is bathed in silver dew.
O Sonne, Gottesstrahl, du bist
O sun, light of God, you are
Nie herrlicher, als im Entfliehen!
never more glorious than when you go down!
Du willst uns gern hinüberziehen,
You would gladly draw us with you
Wo deines Glanzes Urquell ist.
to the source of your radiance.
Composer
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…
Poet
Schreiber, Aloys
Aloys Wilhelm Schreiber was a German professor of aesthetics, court historian, author, playwright, and travel writer. He had seven children with his wife, Maria Anna Joubert, including mathematician Guido Schreiber.