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Alles ist Eins - (2008)
Rainer Maria Rilke
for medium voice and piano
Einmal, am Rande des Hains,
stehn wir einsam beisammen
und sind festlich, wie Flammen -
fühlen: Alles ist Eins.
Halten uns fest umfaßt;
werden im lauschenden Lande
durch die weichen Gewande
wachsen wie Ast an Ast.
Wiegt ein erwachender Hauch
die Dolden des Oleanders:
sieh, wir sind nicht mehr anders,
und wir wiegen uns auch.
Meine Seele spürt,
daß wir am Tore tasten.
Und sie fragt dich im Rasten:
Hast Du mich hergeführt?
Und du lächelst darauf
so herrlich und heiter
und: bald wandern wir weiter:
Tore gehn auf..
Und wir sind nichtmehr zag,
unser Weg wird kein Weh sein,
wird eine lange Allee sein
aus dem vergangenen Tag.[ 5 pages, circa 2' 55" ]
Rainer Maria Rilke
The text comes from Rilke's Dir zur Feier (In Celebration of You) from 1897-8.
At once, at the edge of a grove,
we stand alone yet together
and are joyous, like flames -
and feel: All in One.
We embrace tightly
and find ourselves in a listening land
as its soft clothing
awakens branch by branch.
An awakening scent wafts from
the stalks of oleanders:
see, we are no longer other than we are,
and we too are moved.
My soul senses
that we grasp at the gates.
And they ask in peace:
Did you lead me here?
And you smile for this
so cheerful and wondrous
and: soon we will wander farther:
the gates are opening ..
And we are no longer timid,
our paths will not be vexed
but be a long passage
outward from yesterday.
Set for a tessitura which begins at the top of the vocal range in the opening impassioned phrases, this setting colors a work of passion, of a peak moment in time. The form is strophic, with the first two stanzas of the poem set to similar music, the third through the fifth as contrasting bridge material leading to a reprise of the opening verse.
The bridge becomes a gentler 3/4 time set of gestures as the conversation turns inward. A final reprise of the opening theme yields a final burst of enthusiasm, stating resolutely "Alles ist Eins."
The score for Alles ist Eins 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.
