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Frühlingsnacht - (2011)
Max Bernstein
for baritone and piano
Die Welt ist schlafen gangen,
Still ist's in Busch und Baum
Wo erst die Vöglein sangen:
Gute Nacht und süßen Traum!
Viel tausend goldene Sterne
Strahlen im ewigen Raum.
Sie grüßen aus der Ferne:
Gute Nacht und süßen Traum!
Ruh aus von deinen Mühen!
Du schläfst, und ahnst es kaum --
Morgen wird's überall blühen.
Gute Nacht und süßen Traum![ 2 pages, circa 2' 00" ]
The world has gone to sleep.
It is now quiet in bush and tree,
Where the little birds were only just singing:
Good night and sweet dreams.
Thousands of golden stars
Sparkle in eternal space.
They greet us from the distance:
Good night and sweet dreams.
Rest from your labours!
You sleep and scarcely realize it --
Tomorrow it will be blossoming everywhere.
Good night and sweet dreams!
Translation from German to English copyright © 2008 by Sharon Krebs, reprinted on this website with kind permission.
The sonorous depths of the accompaniment play out in the softest of dynamics, as the voice intones the nighttime wish and prayer. The form is a simple ABA song form, the center verse in gentle contrast to the outlying verses. At the final cadence, polytonality sprinkles a touch of fairy dust into the sleeper's eyes.
The score for Frühlingsnacht 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.
