Songs

III. Teil - 1. Haben? Sein?

by György Kurtág From Kafka Fragments (1986)

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Text & Translation

III. Teil - 1. Haben? Sein?
German source: Franz Kafka

Es gibt kein Habe, nur ein Sein, nur ein nach letztem
Atem, nach Ersticken verlangendes Sein.

Part III. - 1. To have? to be?

There is no “to have,” only a “to be,” a “to be” longing for the last breath, for suffocation.

III. Teil - 1. Haben? Sein?
German source: Franz Kafka

Part III. - 1. To have? to be?

Es gibt kein Habe, nur ein Sein, nur ein nach letztem
There is no “to have,” only a “to be,” a “to be” longing for the last breath, for suffocation.
Atem, nach Ersticken verlangendes Sein.

Composer

György Kurtág

György Kurtág was born in Lugoj in the Banat region, Romania. In 1946, he began his studies at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, where he met his wife, Márta, and also György Ligeti, who became a close friend. His piano teacher at the…

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