Heimlich zur Nacht - (2016)    

Else Lasker-Schüler

soprano and piano

Gewidmet meiner Frau

Ich habe dich gewählt
Unter allen Sternen.

Und bin wach - eine lauschende Blume
Im summenden Laub.

Unsere Lippen wollen Honig bereiten,
Unsere schimmernden Nächte sind aufgeblüht.

An dem seligen Glanz deines Leibes
Zündet mein Herz seine Himmel an -

Alle meine Träume hängen an deinem Golde,
Ich habe dich gewählt unt er allen Sternen.

2 pages, circa 2' 30"

Else Lasker-Schüler

 

 Secretly at night

I have chosen you
From under all the stars.

And am awake - a listening blossom
In rustling leaves.

Our lips prepare honey,
Our shimmering nights bloom.

For the bliss-filled radiance of your body
My heart ignites the sky -

All my dreams depend on your gold,
I have chosen you from under all the stars.

 

paraphrase by the composer

 

 

 

 A long-lined setting for this text seemed apt, the opening gesture defining by tonic and subdominant the region of C, while the alteration for the gesture changes the domain to E, a mirror of how we all are changed by relationships. The loving imagery of the text suggests much, as left to the singer and pianist to invest in the reading thereof. For other settings of texts by Lasker-Schüler, click here.

 

 

The score for Heimlich zur Nacht 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.

 

Heimlich zur Nacht