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Die Faulheit - (2012)
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
for medium voice and piano
Fleiß und Arbeit lob ich nicht.
Fleiß und Arbeit lob ein Bauer.
Ja, der Bauer selber spricht,
Fleiß und Arbeit wird ihm sauer.
Faul zu sein, sei meine Pflicht;
Diese Pflicht ermüdet nicht.
Bruder, laß das Buch voll Staub.
Willst du länger mit ihm wachen?
Morgen bist du selber Staub!
Laß uns faul in allen Sachen,
Nur nicht faul zu Lieb und Wein,
Nur nicht faul zur Faulheit sein.2 pages, circa 1' 40"
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Toil and labor praise I not!
Toil and labor's the worker's lot.
So, let the worker have his say:
Toil and labor? Or a lazy day?
Idleness is my delight;
It wearies not nor does incite.
Friend, let dust lie on your books.
Ignore them, nor more studied looks!
Tomorrow we ourselves are dust!
Laziness is right and just,
Except love's labors and wine's joy,
And laziness to well employ.
rhymed paraphrase by the composer
Copyright 2012 © Gary Bachlund All international rights reserved.
Another text by Lessing praising laziness dropped in my lap and just sang to me. I quickly jotted it down and the little setting took minutes to complete. Was it work? I think not. Was it laziness? Surely yes, when the text sings to you and you must only listen awhile as it informs as to its wants.
The score for Die Faulheit 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.
