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Men’s Chorus: Noch liegt die Flur im Dämmerschein der Nacht, der letzten Sterne Licht beginnt zu bleichen. Auf, Bergmann, auf! Die Ruhe ist zu End. Greif hurtig in des großen Triebwerks Speichen. Alto Solo: Nur einem Blick wirft Steiger Simon schnell aufs traute Heim, wo ihn, auf Traumeswegen noch wandelnd, hold sein Kind, sein Glück, begrüßt. Dann eilt er froh dem Tagewerk entgegen. Alto Solo with Men’s Chorus: Sein Pfad führt ihn durch blum’gen Wiesengrund, An jedem Grasholm funkeln Diamanten. Tautropfen von der Sonne Strahl geküßt. Die schöne Welt ist wieder neu erstanden. Schon ruft das Glöcklein, mahnt zur ernsten Pficht. Es füllt sich schnell die schmucklos kleine Halle. Ein frommer Sang; ein still Gebet zum Herrn. Und festes Gottvertraun erfüllet alle. Alto Solo: Nun eilt er frisch ans Werk, denn heute gilt’s, den Durchbruch nach dem alten Schacht vollenden. Nur heißem Mühen blühet der Erfolg. Er liegt in euren arbeitsfrohen Händen. Men’s Chorus: Es fahren Zimmerling und Hauer ein auf steilen Leitern zwischen schwarzen Wänden. Stumm gähnt des Stollens ewig finstre Nacht; nur heir und da ein schwaches Licht der Blenden. Men’s Chorus: Und selten hallt ein Ruf ein Wort. Es kann kein Laut von oben in die Tiefe dringen, Der Fäustel klopft. Dumpf dröhnt der Haue Schlag. “Nur unverzagt! Das Werk muß uns gelingen.” Men’s Chorus: Vor Ort ist Simon unermüdlich schier. Die heut’ge Schicht noch muß den Durchbruch bringen. Er feuert jeden an durch eigne Tat. Hindurch hört er’s im Geist schon klingen. Schicht wechsel naht heran. Da schlägt mit Wucht durch eine letzte Wand noch Simons Haue. “Glück auf!” ruft er, “das große Werk gelang.” Scharf strömt die Luft herein vom alten Baue. Alto Solo with Men’s Chorus: Da zuckt’s hell auf! Er steht wie fest gebannt. Ein blendend Licht heißt ihn das Auge schließen. Unheimlich surrt’s und klingt es ihm im Ohr. Vom Durchbruch her ein magisch Schimmern fließen. Und an den Wänden läuft es entlang; Bläuliche Flammen! Spukhaft und bang, huschen dahin sie, einen sich schnell trennen sich wieder, aufblitzend grell. “Schlagwetter! Fort! Fliehet vom Ort!” Aus allen Kehlen der furchtbare Schrei: Herr gott in Himmel stehe uns bei! Da plötzlich fährt ihm mit lautem Gezisch eine mächtige Flamme entgegen. Es schleudert ihn fort. Eine Flammen meer loht. Lauf dröhnt es von Donnernden Schlägen. Alto solo: Nun alles wieder still. Das Bergwerk ruht nach schwerem Kampf in geister heftem Schweigen. Am Firmament erglüht ein goldner Stern und will den Weg zur ew’gen Ruhe zeigen. Alto Solo and Chorus: Bergglöcklein tönt. Der Kameraden Schar steht still am Grab im Abend sonnenglühen. Fernchor, Men’s Chorus, and Alto Solo: Nun fahre ein zur letzten langen Schicht. Ruh, Bergmann, aus von deines Lebens Mühen.
Notes provided by Laura Prichard:
The opening stanza is modeled on Christian Wagner’s lyric poem “Trüber Früling” which also begins "Noch liegt die Flur in…” from the 1860s. The "Fernchor" (or offstage chorus) of the last stanza is described in the score as follows: “2-3 faches Quartett, hinter dem Chor (oder in einem Sietenzimmer) aufstellen” [2-3 quartets, set up behind the main chorus (or in a side room)]
Stanza 6, line 1: Zimmerling und Hauer are names of miners.
Stanza 6, line 4: Zinc ore (ZnS), or a similar metallic sulfide
Stanza 9, line 3 ("Glück auf!") : This common miner’s greeting, originally from the Ore Mountains [Erzgebirge mining region] of Saxony, was in use since the 1600s (as in the folksong "Glück auf, der Steiger kommt"). It was commonly said when miner’s entered and left mines by ladders (Fahrten), sometimes climbing for two hours to reach their worksites. This Pfennig was struck to commemorate King Ernest Augustus’ 1839 visit to Clausthal, home of the Technische Universität Clausthal, and where modern wire rope had just been invented by mining engineer Wilhelm Albert.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Hugo Wilhelm Ludwig Kaun (1863 - 1932), "Der Steiger", subtitle: "Noch liegt die Flur in Dämmerschein (nach einer wahren Begebenheit)", 1929, published 1929, first performed 1929 [ men's chorus, alto, orchestra ], Berlin-Schlächtensee: Amsel-Verlag [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "The Mining Foreman", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-02-21
Line count: 71
Word count: 446
Men’s Chorus: The corridor remains in twilight, the last starlight begins to fade. Up, miner, up! Rest is at an end. Seize the spokes of the great engine. Alto Solo: In an instant, Simon the Foreman quickly ejects himself from his “Home Sweet Home,” where he, on dreamy paths, still lingers, dwelling on his child, his happiness. Then he rushes happily to his daily work. Alto Solo with Men’s Chorus: His path leads him through blooming meadows, on every blade of grass sparkle diamonds. Dewdrops kissed by the sun. The beautiful world has risen once again. The [work] bell is calling, reminding us of [our] duty. The small, unadorned hall fills quickly. A pious song; a silent prayer to the Lord. And a steadfast faith in God fills everyone. Alto Solo: Now he hurries afresh to the worksite, because today, it’s important to complete the connection to the old shaft. Only with great effort, will success flourish. It is in your willing hands. Men’s Chorus: Zimmerling and Hauer enter first, climbing down steep ladders between black walls. Mutely yawns the gallery’s eternally dark night; only here and there shines a faint metallic reflection. Men’s Chorus: And seldom does an echo reflect back a single word. No sound from above penetrates these depths, The iron hammer taps. Dully thuds [each] miner’s blow. “Don’t be discouraged! We must succeed [in our work]!” Men’s Chorus: In this place, Simon is nearly tireless. Today’s shift must accomplish the breakthough. He fires up everyone through his own example. He already hears [success] ringing in his mind. The time to change shifts has almost come. The forceful strike finally breaking through the wall is Simon’s own. “Hail,” he calls, “the great work is done.” Air streams in pungently from the old site. Alto Solo with Men’s Chorus: Then brightness surrounds them! He stands spellbound. A blinding light forces him to shut his eyes. It hums and rings eerily in his ear. From the hole flows a magical shimmering. And it runs along the walls; Blue flames! Spooky and frightening, they scurry along, each quickly Expanding, brightly flashing. “Firestorm! Run! Get out of here!” From every throat the terrible cry: Lord God in heaven, be with us! Suddenly, with a loud hiss, the force of the flames propel him back. It tosses him up. A sea of flames explodes. It reigns down thundering blows. Alto solo: Now all is quiet again. The mine rests after the hard battle, in ghostly silence. In the firmament above, a golden star shines and wants to show the way to eternal rest. Alto Solo and Chorus: The work bell tolls. The crowd of comrades stands by the grave in the fading glow of evening. Fernchor, Men’s Chorus, and Alto Solo: Now descend for your last, long shift. Rest, miner, from your life’s troubles.
Note: the title means literally "The One who Rises or Steps Up".
Stanza 6, line 4: Zinc ore (ZnS), or a similar metallic sulfide.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Max Freygang
This text was added to the website: 2023-02-21
Line count: 71
Word count: 472