♫ Gustav Mahler Das Lied von der Erde Der Abschied Kathleen Ferrier

Bruno Walter (Dir.), Kathleen Ferrier (Alt), Julius Patzak (Tenor), Wiener Philharmoniker. Wien 1952 (mono). Decca 466 576–2

Der Abschied
(Hans Bethge, 1876-1946, nach Mong-Kao-Yen, 689/691–740, und Wang-Wei, 698–761; letzte Strophe vom Komponisten hinzugefügt)

Die Sonne scheidet hinter dem Gebirge.
In alle Täler steigt der Abend nieder
Mit seinen Schatten, die voll Kühlung sind.
O sieh! Wie eine Silberbarke schwebt
Der Mond am blauen Himmelssee herauf.
Ich spüre eines feinen Windes Wehn
Hinter den dunklen Fichten!

Der Bach singt voller Wohllaut durch das Dunkel.
Die Blumen blassen im Dämmerschein.
Die Erde atmet voll von Ruh und Schlaf,
Alle Sehnsucht will nun träumen.
Die müden Menschen gehn heimwärts,
Um im Schlaf vergessnes Glück
Und Jugend neu zu lernen!
Die Vögel hocken still in ihren Zweigen.
Die Welt schläft ein!

Es wehet kühl im Schatten meiner Fichten.
Ich stehe hier und harre meines Freundes;
Ich harre sein zum letzten Lebewohl.
Ich sehne mich, o Freund, an deiner Seite
Die Schönheit dieses Abends zu genießen.
Wo bleibst du? Du lässt mich lang allein!
Ich wandle auf und nieder mit meiner Laute
Auf Wegen, die vom weichen Grase schwellen.
O Schönheit! O ewigen Liebens, Lebens trunkne Welt!

Er stieg vom Pferd und reichte ihm den Trunk
Des Abschieds dar. Er fragte ihn, wohin
Er führe und auch warum es müsste sein.
Er sprach, seine Stimme war umflort: "Du, mein Freund,
Mir war auf dieser Welt das Glück nicht hold!
Wohin ich geh? Ich geh, ich wandre in die Berge.
Ich suche Ruhe für mein einsam Herz.
Ich wandle nach der Heimat, meiner Stätte.
Ich werde niemals in die Ferne schweifen.
Still ist mein Herz und harret seiner Stunde!

Die liebe Erde allüberall
Blüht auf im Lenz und grünt
Aufs neu! Allüberall und ewig
Blauen licht die Fernen!
Ewig... ewig..."

The farewell
The sun goes down behind the mountain,
Into all the valleys the evening descends
And brings cooling shades.
O see! Like a silver bark
The moon floats up the blue lake of heaven.
I feel a gentle breeze stirring
Behind the dark spruce.
The brook sings melodiously through the darkness.
The flowers grow pale in the gloaming.
The earth is breathing, full of peace and sleep.
All longing now turns in dreams,
Tired men make for home,
In sleep to recapture forgotten happiness
And youth!
The birds cower silently in the branches.
The world is falling asleep.

A cool wind blows in the shadow of my spruce.
I stand here waiting for my friend;
I wait to bid him a last farewell.
I long, my friend, at your side
To enjoy the beauty of this evening.
Where do you linger? You have left mc alone so long!
I wander up and down with my lute
On paths soft with swelling grass.
O beauty! O eternal life- and love-drunk world!

He dismounted and proffered him the drink
Of farewell. He asked where
He was going and why it had to be.
He said, and his voice trembled:
"O my friend,
In this world fortune did not smile on me.
Where I am going? I go, I wander into the mountains.
I seek peace for my lonely heart.
I am making for home, for my resting place.
I will never roam into strange lands.
My heart is still and bides its time.

The dear earth everywhere
Blossoms in spring and grows green
Anew! Everywhere, for ever,
Blue lights the horizon!
Ever... ever... "

Translation: D. Kern Holoman

Other translations:

The sun departs behind the mountains.
In all the valleys, evening descends
with its cooling shadows.
O look! Like a silver boat,
the moon floats on the blue sky-lake above.
I feel the fine wind wafting
behind the dark spruce.
The brook sings loudly through the darkness.
The flowers stand out palely in the twilight.
The earth breathes, full of peace and sleep,
and all yearning wishes to dream now.
Weary men go home,
to learn in sleep
forgotten happiness and youth.
The birds crouch silently in their branches.
The world is asleep!

It blows coolly in the shadows of my spruce.
I stand here and wait for my friend;
I wait to bid him a last farewell.
I yearn, my friend, at your side
to enjoy the beauty of this evening.
Where do you tarry? You leave me alone for so long!
I wander up and down with my lute,
on paths swelling with soft grass.
O beauty! O eternal love - eternal, love-intoxicated world!

He dismounted and handed him the drink
of parting. He asked him where
he would go, and also why it must be.
He spoke, his voice was choked: My friend,
on this earth, fortune has not been kind to me!
Where do I go? I will go, wander in the mountains.
I seek peace for my lonely heart.
I wander to find my homeland, my home.
I will never stray to foreign lands.
Quiet is my heart, waiting for its hour!

The dear earth everywhere
blooms in spring and grows green
afresh! Everywhere and eternally,
distant places have blue skies!
Eternally... eternally...

Translation from German to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

The sun goes down behind the mountains.
In all the valleys evening comes
With its shadows, filled with coolness.
O look! Like a silver sailing ship soars
The moon in a blue heavenly lake above.
I feel the passing of a gentle breeze
Behind the dark spruces.

The brook sings, full of melodious sound, through the darkness.
The flowers pale in the twilight.
The earth breathes full with rest and sleep,
All longing now wishes to dream.

Weary humanity heads home,
So that in sleep forgotten fortune
And youth may be relearned.
The birds roost silently on the branches.
The world falls asleep.

It blows cool in the shadows of my spruces.
I stand here and wait for my friend.
I wait for him for a last farewell.

I long, O friend, to be by your side
To enjoy the beauty of this evening.
What has become of you?
You leave me too long alone!
I wander back and forth with my lute
On paths that billow with soft grass.

O Beauty! O endless love - life-intoxicated world!

He alighted from his horse and offered him the drink
Of farewell.
He asked him where he was going
And why it must be.

He spoke, his voice was muffled:
You, my friend,
Fortune was not kind to me in this world!
Where do I go?
I go, I wander in the mountains.
I seek rest for my lonely heart.

I travel to the homeland, my abode.
I will no longer rove in distant lands.
My heart is still and awaits its hour!

The beloved earth everywhere
Blossoms forth in spring and grows green anew!
Everywhere and forever the distant lands brighten and turn to blue!
Forever, forever,
Forever, forever,
Forever, forever,
Forever!

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