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Ein Spruch - (2012)
Justinus Kerner
for medium voice and piano
Weiß nicht, woher ich bin gekommen,
Weiß nicht, wohin ich werd' genommen,
Doch weiß ich fest: daß ob mir ist
Eine Liebe, die mich nie vergißt.2 pages, circa 1' 40"
Justinus Kerner
The little maxim captures a truth of life that all the philosophers combined cannot further clarify. From whence do we spring? May we know who and where we will be in our tomorrows? But as with Stephen Hawking's amusing comment, the truth is that -- as Hawking noted about love -- "women are a mystery" to him, and Kerner knew well that one special memory of a love will abide with us throughout life.
I've no idea from whence I came,
And no idea of tomorrow's game,
But 'tis assured I know one thing:
What an unforgettable love can bring.
gb
Copyright 2012 © Gary Bachlund All international rights reserved.
The setting bubbles along in but two and three voices, a set of blocks which fit together. The voice part's intervals are reversed after a short jab of commentary. Who knows? Who knows? The humorous setting ends as marked, non ritardando, quietly.
The score for Ein Spruch 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.
