Songs

Der kranke Mond

by Arnold Schoenberg From Pierrot Lunaire (1912) Op. 21

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Text & Translation

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Der kranke Mond
German source: Otto Erich Hartleben

Du nächtig todeskranker Mond
Dort auf des Himmels schwarzem Pfühl,
Dein Blick, so fiebernd übergroß,
Bannt mich wie fremde Melodie.
An unstillbarem Liebesleid
Stirbst du, an Sehnsucht, tief erstickt,
Du nächtig todeskranker Mond
Dort auf des Himmels schwarzem Pfühl.
Den Liebsten, der im Sinnenrausch
Gedankenlos zur Liebsten schleicht,
Belustigt deiner Strahlen Spiel -
Dein bleiches, qualgebornes Blut,
Du nächtig todeskranker Mond.

The sick moon (1996)
English translation © Roger Marsh

You nightly deathward sinking moon
Draped upon Heaven’s blackened bed.
Your face, so fevered, overlarge,
Haunts me, like some exotic song.
An all consuming lovesickness
Kills you with longing, suffocates...
You nightly deathward sinking moon,
Draped upon Heaven’s blackened bed.
Your loved one, senseless with desire,
Without a thought speeds to his love,
Delighting in your dancing beams,
Your white contaminated blood,
You nightly deathward sinking moon.

Der kranke Mond
German source: Otto Erich Hartleben

The sick moon (1996)
English source: Roger Marsh

Du nächtig todeskranker Mond
You nightly deathward sinking moon
Dort auf des Himmels schwarzem Pfühl,
Draped upon Heaven’s blackened bed.
Dein Blick, so fiebernd übergroß,
Your face, so fevered, overlarge,
Bannt mich wie fremde Melodie.
Haunts me, like some exotic song.
An unstillbarem Liebesleid
An all consuming lovesickness
Stirbst du, an Sehnsucht, tief erstickt,
Kills you with longing, suffocates...
Du nächtig todeskranker Mond
You nightly deathward sinking moon,
Dort auf des Himmels schwarzem Pfühl.
Draped upon Heaven’s blackened bed.
Den Liebsten, der im Sinnenrausch
Your loved one, senseless with desire,
Gedankenlos zur Liebsten schleicht,
Without a thought speeds to his love,
Belustigt deiner Strahlen Spiel -
Delighting in your dancing beams,
Dein bleiches, qualgebornes Blut,
Your white contaminated blood,
Du nächtig todeskranker Mond.
You nightly deathward sinking moon.

Composer

Arnold Schoenberg

Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg or Schönberg was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter. He was associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School.

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