Music Vlog - Lyrics Blog #03 - Gustav Mahlers 2nd Symphonie: 'Die Auferstehung'
Dear loved ones,
I want to share with you some special moments in my life, which are unquestionably tied to Mahler's 2nd symphony, a masterpiece of its own kind!
Once I was hopelessly in love with another girl, she played the violin, and we heard Mahler's 2nd symphony on my MacBook in the middle of the night on student conference for linguistics. That time was very turbulent! I left my wife for that short hopeless love, and got cursed with Mahler's 2nd. Never again (it was three times, since) I din't got a chance to attend a life performance of Mahler 2nd.
The first time, my wife and I found our love and our way together again, and we were traveling to Mailand, to attend a concert of the 2nd Mahler conducted by Maestro Claudio Abbado. But shortly before the concert, the Maestro got ill and the concert was cancelled.
The second time I missed a concert in Kloster Eberbach, with Maestro Paavo Järvi, because there was football world champion ship, and the Germans were playing. So we were late for the concert and weren't allowed to get in anymore, because they where shooting for TV.
And the third time, also in Kloster Eberbach, Maestro Andris Nelsons got into Hospital due to a heart attack during rehearsal. Very grave indeed!
- Satz: Allegro maestoso. Mit durchaus ernstem und feierlichem Ausdruck
- Satz: Andante comodo. Sehr gemächlich. Nie eilen
- Satz: In ruhig fließender Bewegung
- Satz: Urlicht – Sehr feierlich aber schlicht. Nicht schleppen
- Satz: Im Tempo des Scherzos. Wild herausfahrend – Wieder zurückhaltend – Langsam. Misterioso
Lyrics:
Fourth Movement
Original German
Urlicht
O Röschen rot!
Der Mensch liegt in größter Not!
Der Mensch liegt in größter Pein!
Je lieber möcht' ich im Himmel sein.
Da kam ich auf einen breiten Weg:
Da kam ein Engelein und wollt’ mich abweisen.
Ach nein! Ich ließ mich nicht abweisen!
Ich bin von Gott und will wieder zu Gott!
Der liebe Gott wird mir ein Lichtchen geben,
Wird leuchten mir bis in das ewig selig Leben!
—From Des Knaben Wunderhorn
In English
Primeval Light
O little red rose!
Man lies in greatest need!
Man lies in greatest pain!
How I would rather be in heaven.
There came I upon a broad path
when came a little angel and wanted to turn me away.
Ah no! I would not let myself be turned away!
I am from God and shall return to God!
The loving God will grant me a little light,
Which will light me into that eternal blissful life!
—From Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Fifth Movement
Note: The first eight lines were taken from the poem Die Auferstehung by Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock.[11] Mahler omitted the final four lines of this poem and wrote the rest himself (beginning at "O glaube").
Original German
Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n
Wirst du, Mein Staub,
Nach kurzer Ruh'!
Unsterblich Leben! Unsterblich Leben
wird der dich rief dir geben!
Wieder aufzublüh'n wirst du gesät!
Der Herr der Ernte geht
und sammelt Garben
uns ein, die starben!
—Friedrich Klopstock
O glaube, mein Herz, o glaube:
Es geht dir nichts verloren!
Dein ist, ja dein, was du gesehnt!
Dein, was du geliebt,
Was du gestritten!
O glaube
Du wardst nicht umsonst geboren!
Hast nicht umsonst gelebt, gelitten!
Was entstanden ist
Das muß vergehen!
Was vergangen, auferstehen!
Hör' auf zu beben!
Bereite dich zu leben!
O Schmerz! Du Alldurchdringer!
Dir bin ich entrungen!
O Tod! Du Allbezwinger!
Nun bist du bezwungen!
Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen,
In heißem Liebesstreben,
Werd' ich entschweben
Zum Licht, zu dem kein Aug' gedrungen!
Sterben werd' ich, um zu leben!
Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n
wirst du, mein Herz, in einem Nu!
Was du geschlagen
zu Gott wird es dich tragen!
—Gustav Mahler
In English
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you My dust,
After a brief rest!
Immortal life! Immortal life
Will He who called you, give you.
To bloom again were you sown!
The Lord of the harvest goes
And gathers in, like sheaves,
Us together, who died.
—Friedrich Klopstock
O believe, my heart, O believe:
Nothing to you is lost!
Yours is, yes yours, is what you desired
Yours, what you have loved
What you have fought for!
O believe,
You were not born for nothing!
Have not for nothing, lived, suffered!
What was created
Must perish,
What perished, rise again!
Cease from trembling!
Prepare yourself to live!
O Pain, You piercer of all things,
From you, I have been wrested!
O Death, You conqueror of all things,
Now, are you conquered!
With wings which I have won for myself,
In love’s fierce striving,
I shall soar upwards
To the light which no eye has penetrated!
Die shall I in order to live.
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you, my heart, in an instant!
That for which you suffered,
To God shall it carry you!
—Gustav Mahler
(Source: Wikipedia)
So I only can hear this music in private, not in concert. But that's ok, I enjoy every time listening to this masterpiece of music!
The very best part is the choir at the end and the great finale, but there are a lot of other great emotional moments!
This is a very remarkable performance by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra und the direction of Mariss Jansons.
Ricarda Merbeth, soprano
Bernarda Fink, mezzo soprano
Enjoy!
Stay steemed!
Love, Unity & Abundance
Holger