Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Du bist der Vogel, dessen Flügel kamen, wenn ich erwachte in der Nacht und rief. Nur mit den Armen rief ich, denn dein Namen ist wie ein Abgrund, tausend Nächte tief. Du bist der Schatten, drin ich still entschlief, und jeden Traum ersinnt in mir dein Samen, - du bist das Bild, ich aber bin der Rahmen, der dich ergänzt in glänzendem Relief. Wie nenn ich dich? Sieh, meine Lippen lahmen. Du bist der Anfang, der sich groß ergießt, ich bin das langsame und bange Amen, das deine Schönheit scheu beschließt. Du hast mich oft aus dunklem Ruhn gerissen, wenn mir das Schlafen wie ein Grab erschien und wie Verlorengehen und Entfliehn, - da hobst du mich aus Herzensfinsternissen und wolltest mich auf allen Türmen hissen wie Scharlachfahnen und wie Draperien. Du: der von Wundern redet wie vom Wissen und von den Menschen wie von Melodien und von den Rosen: von Ereignissen, die flammend sich in deinem Blick vollziehn, - du Seliger, wann nennst du einmal Ihn, aus dessen siebentem und letztem Tage noch immer Glanz auf deinem Flügelschlage verloren liegt... Befiehlst du, dass ich frage?
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Der Schutzengel", written 1899, appears in Das Buch der Bilder, first published 1920 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Zoltán Gárdonyi (1906 - 1986), "Der Schutzengel", 1940/1 [ voice and piano ], from Fünf Rilke-Lieder, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Jürg Itten , "Der Schutzengel", 2005 [ voice, dulcimer and piano ], from Rilke-Zyklus, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Mart Siimer (b. 1967), "Schutzengel", 2001, first performed 2001 [ soprano, piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'ange gardien", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "L'angelo custode", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-02-27
Line count: 27
Word count: 186
Sei la creatura dell'aria,la cui ala scendeva, quando, destatomi , ti invocavo al buio. Ma solo con le braccia. Profondo mi appariva il tuo nome come le mille notti di un dirupo. Tu sei l'ombra, in cui calmo mi assopivo e in ogni sogno, in me, il tuo seme trovo, Tu sei il quadro, io sono la cornice, Che ti completa in splendente rilievo. Ma come nominarti? Vedi, il mio labbro si chiude. Tu sei l'inizio, che si spande immenso, io sono l'Amen, pieno di ansia e lento, che la bellezza Tua, timido, conclude. Spesso da un sonno oscuro mi hai destato Quando per me era come tomba il sonno, A un perdersi e svanire somigliante -- Allora, dalla notte dell'animo mi hai tolto E in cima a tutte le torri mi hai innalzato Come un drappo o un vessillo fiammeggiante. Tu: che di miracoli parli come di cose vere E degli uomini come fossero un canto, E delle rose: e di ogni accadere Che nel tuo sguardo, si realizza fiammando -- Quando,o Beato, pronuncerai di Colui il nome Da cui fin dal settimo, giorno supremo, Ancora e sempre sulla tua ala splendore Si diffonde disperso... ... ... Chiederai allora tu, ciò che ti chiedo?
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2009 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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 Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), "Der Schutzengel", written 1899, appears in Das Buch der Bilder, first published 1920
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-12
Line count: 27
Word count: 203