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Abendgefühl - (2015)
Friedrich Hebbel
for soprano or mezzo soprano and piano
Friedlich bekämpfen
Nacht sich und Tag.
Wie das zu dämpfen,
Wie das zu lösen vermag!
Der mich bedrückte,
Schläfst du schon, Schmerz?
Was mich beglückte
Sage, was war's doch, mein Herz?
Freude wie Kummer,
Fühl' ich, zerrann,
Aber den Schlummer
Führten sie leise heran.
Und im Entschweben,
Immer empor,
Kommt mir das Leben
Ganz, wie ein Schlummerlied vor.2 pages, circa 2' 00"
Friedrich Hebbel
Peacefully does night
struggle with the day:
how to muffle it,
how to dissolve it.
That which depressed me,
are you already asleep, o Pain?
That which made me happy,
say, what was it, my heart?
Joy, like anguish,
I feel has melted away,
but they have gently
invoked slumber instead.
And as I float away,
ever skyward,
it occurs to me that life
is just like a lullaby.
Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
from the LiederNet Archive -- http://www.lieder.net
The setting places the four strophes into two verses, the accompaniment to the second an octave lower than the first and with a simple final cadence. A gently rhapsodic rubato and, for the accompanist, col canto are recommended.
The score for Abendgefühl is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.
