Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
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Siehst du mich - (2011)
Else Lasker-Schüler
for medium voice and piano
Zwischen Erde und Himmel?
Nie ging einer über meinen Pfad.
Aber dein Antlitz wärmt meine Welt,
Von dir geht alles Blühen aus.
Wenn du mich ansiehst,
Wird mein Herz süß.
Ich liege unter deinem Lächeln
Und lerne Tag und Nacht bereiten,
Dich hinzaubern und vergehen lassen,
Immer spiele ich das eine Spiel.[ 2 pages, circa 3' 00" ]
Else Lasker-Schüler
Can you see me
Between earth and heaven?
Never has one crossed my path.
But your face warms my world,
All that flourishes springs from you.
When you look at me,
My heart becomes sweet.
Underneath your smile I lie
And day and night learn to be ready,
To conjure you up as to let you fade.
The one game that I always play.
gb
The use of the singular second person pronoun in German is reserved for friends, children and for God. This imagery of sweet and warm mystery is so addressed, as to the self whose play is "to conjure you up as to let you fade." In the notion of prayer as hitpallel in the Hebrew, the verb is reflexive and indicates the filling up of one's self by such a meditation, such a game and such a habit of mind. The poet's collection, Hebraïsche Balladen, is from the same period and scope of work which are informed by Jewish themes. The setting is sweet and sonorous, the vocal line simple and lyrical.
The score for Siehst du mich 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.
