Mahler: Kindertotenlieder

Introduction

Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the Death of Children) is a song cycle for voice and orchestra by Gustav Mahler. The words of the songs are poems by Friedrich Rückert.

Text and music

The original Kindertotenlieder were a group of 428 poems written by Rückert in 1833–34 in an outpouring of grief following the illness (scarlet fever) and death of two of his children. Karen Painter describes the poems thus: "Rückert's 428 poems on the death of children became singular, almost manic documents of the psychological endeavor to cope with such loss. In ever new variations Rückert's poems attempt a poetic resuscitation of the children that is punctuated by anguished outbursts. But above all the poems show a quiet acquiescence to fate and to a peaceful world of solace." These poems were not intended for publication, and they appeared in print only in 1871, five years after the poet's death.

Mahler selected five of Rückert's poems to set as Lieder, which he composed between 1901 and 1904. The songs are written in Mahler's late-romantic idiom, and like the texts reflect a mixture of feelings: anguish, fantasy resuscitation of the children, resignation. The final song ends in a major key and a mood of transcendence.

The cello melody in the postlude to "In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus" (mm. 129–133) alludes to the first subject of the finale of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 (1895/96), a movement titled "What love tells me" ("Was mir die Liebe erzählt"). "Musically, then, this is the last word of the Kindertotenlieder: that death is powerful, yet love is even stronger."

Composition and premiere

Hefling indicates that Mahler composed the first, third, and fourth songs in 1901 (he played them for his friend Natalie Bauer-Lechner on 10 August). There followed a long break, and the remaining songs were composed in the summer of 1904.

The work was premiered in Vienna on 29 January 1905. Friedrich Weidemann, a leading baritone at the Vienna Court Opera, was the soloist, and the composer conducted. The hall was selected as a relatively small one, compatible with the intimacy of the lied genre, and the orchestra was a chamber orchestra consisting of players drawn from the Vienna Philharmonic.

Scoring and performance

The work is scored for a vocal soloist (the notes lie comfortably for a baritone or mezzo-soprano) and an orchestra consisting of piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais (English horn), 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, timpani, glockenspiel, tam-tam, celesta, harp, and strings. There are no trumpets. Deployed at chamber-orchestra scale, this instrumentation permitted Mahler to explore a wide variety of timbres within a smaller-scale sound; Tunbridge sees this as a new precedent adopted by later composers; for instance Schoenberg in Pierrot Lunaire.

Concerning the performance of the work, the composer wrote "these five songs are intended as one inseparate unit, and in performing them their continuity should not be interfered with".

The work takes about 25 minutes to perform.

The Kindertotenlieder and Mahler's life history

At the time he wrote the work Mahler was no stranger to the deaths of children. Hefling writes, "Such tragedy was familiar to Mahler, [as] eight of his siblings died during their childhood. Among all of them, the death of his closest younger brother Ernst in 1874 had affected him most deeply, and he confided to [his friend] Natalie [Bauer-Lechner] that "such frightful sorrow he had never again experienced, as great a loss he had nevermore borne."

In 1904, when Mahler resumed the composition of the interrupted work (see above), it was only two weeks after the birth of his own second child, upsetting his wife Alma, who "found it incomprehensible and feared Mahler was tempting Providence."

Alma's fears proved all too prescient, as four years after the work had been completed the Mahlers' daughter Maria, aged four, died of scarlet fever. Mahler wrote to Guido Adler: "I placed myself in the situation that a child of mine had died. When I really lost my daughter, I could not have written these songs any more."

Lyrics

"Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgeh'n" Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgeh'n als sei kein Unglück die Nacht gescheh'n. Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein. Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein. Du mußt nicht die Nacht in dir verschränken mußt sie ins ew'ge Licht versenken. Ein Lämplein verlosch in meinem Zelt, Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt. "Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen" Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen ihr sprühtet mir in manchem Augenblicke. O Augen, gleichsam, um in einem Blicke zu drängen eure ganze Macht zusammen. Doch ahnt' ich nicht, weil Nebel mich umschwammen, gewoben vom verblendenden Geschicke, daß sich der Strahl bereits zur Heimkehr schicke, dorthin, von wannen alle Strahlen stammen. Ihr wolltet mir mit eurem Leuchten sagen: Wir möchten nah dir immer bleiben gerne! Doch ist uns das vom Schicksal abgeschlagen. Sieh' recht uns an, denn bald sind wir dir ferne! Was dir noch Augen sind in diesen Tagen: In künft'gen Nächten sind es dir nur Sterne. "Wenn dein Mütterlein" Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein, und den Kopf ich drehe, ihr entgegen sehe, fällt auf ihr Gesicht erst der Blick mir nicht, sondern auf die Stelle, näher nach der Schwelle, dort, wo würde dein lieb Gesichten sein. Wenn du freudenhelle trätest mit herein, wie sonst, mein Töchterlein. Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein, mit der Kerze Schimmer, ist es mir, als immer kämst du mit herein, huschtest hinterdrein, als wie sonst ins Zimmer! O du, des Vaters Zelle, ach, zu schnell erlosch'ner Freudenschein! "Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen" Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen, bald werden sie wieder nach Hause gelangen. Der Tag ist schön, o sei nicht bang, sie machen nur einen weiten Gang. Ja wohl, sie sind nur ausgegangen, und werden jetzt nach Hause gelangen. O, sei nicht bang, der Tag ist schön, sie machen einen Gang zu jenen Höh'n. Sie sind uns nur voraus gegangen, und werden nicht wieder nach Hause verlangen. Wir holen sie ein auf jenen Höh'n im Sonnenschein, der Tag ist schön, auf jenen Höh'n "In diesem Wetter" In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus, nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus; man hat sie getragen hinaus, ich durfte nichts dazu sagen! In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus; ich fürchtete sie erkranken, das sind nun eitle Gedanken. In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus, Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus; ich sorgte, sie stürben morgen, das ist nun nicht zu besorgen. In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus! Nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus! Man hat sie hinaus getragen, ich durfte nichts dazu sagen! In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, in diesem Braus, sie ruh'n als wie in der Mutter Haus, von keinem Sturm erschrecket, von Gottes Hand bedecket.

"Now the sun wants to rise as brightly" Now the sun wants to rise as brightly as if nothing terrible had happened during the night. The misfortune had happened only to me, but the sun shines equally on everyone. You must not enfold the night in you. You must sink it in eternal light. A little star went out in my tent! Greetings to the joyful light of the world. "Now I see well, why with such dark flames" Now I see well, why with such dark flames in many glances you flash upon me O Eyes: as if in one look to draw all your strength together I didn't realise, because a mist surrounded me woven of tangled destinies that your beam was already returning homewards to the place from which all rays emanate. You would tell me with your brightness: We would gladly stay with you! Now that is denied to us by Fate. Look at us, soon we will be far away! What are only eyes to you in these days, in the coming night shall be your stars. "When your mama steps in through the door" When your mama steps in through the door and I turn my head to see at her, falling on her face my gaze does not first fall, but at the place nearer the doorstep, there, where your dear little face would be, when you with bright joy step inside, as you used to, my little daughter. When your mommy steps in through the door with the glowing candle, it seems to me, always you came in too, hurrying behind her, as you used to come into the room. Oh you, of a father's cell, ah, too soon extinguished light! "I often think: they have only just gone out" I often think: they have only just gone out, and now they will be coming back home. The day is fine, don't be dismayed, They have just gone for a long walk. Yes indeed, they have just gone out, and now they are making their way home. Don't be dismayed, the day is fine, they have simply made a journey to yonder heights. They have just gone out ahead of us, and will not be thinking of coming home. We go to meet them on yonder heights In the sunlight, the day is fine On yonder heights. "In this weather" In this weather, in this windy storm, I would never have sent the children out. They have been carried off, I wasn't able to warn them! In this weather, in this gale, I would never have let the children out. I feared they sickened: those thoughts are now in vain. In this weather, in this storm, I would never have let the children out, I was anxious they might die the next day: now anxiety is pointless. In this weather, in this windy storm, I would never have sent the children out. They have been carried off, I wasn't able to warn them! In this weather, in this gale, in this windy storm, they rest as if in their mother's house: frightened by no storm, sheltered by the Hand of God.

Lyrics

(德文原文、英文翻译、中文翻译)
Kindertotenlieder
Set by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), 1902
Texts by Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866)

亡儿之歌

1. Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgehn
Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgehn,
Als sei kein Unglück die Nacht geschehn!
Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein!
Die Sonne, sie scheinet allgemein!
Du mußt nicht die Nacht in dir verschränken,
Mußt sie ins ew'ge Licht versenken!
Ein Lämplein verlosch in meinem Zelt!
Heil sei dem Freudenlicht der Welt!
Now the sun will rise as brightly
Now the sun will rise as brightly
as if no misfortune had occurred in the night.
The misfortune has fallen on me alone.
The sun - it shines for everyone.
You must not keep the night inside you;
you must immerse it in eternal light.
A little light has been extinguished in my household;
Light of joy in the world, be welcome.
I
一轮红日光辉如昨地升起，
彷佛夜里没有不幸发生!
噩梦只发生在我身上!
红日却依旧普照世人!
你何苦独自揽黑夜痛饮，
何不置之于永光中展陈!
一盏青灯在我的蓬帐中殒灭，
但愿不减人世间的欢欣!

2. Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
Ihr sprühtet mir in manchem Augenblicke.
O Augen!
Gleichsam, um voll in einem Blicke
Zu drängen eure ganze Macht zusammen.
Doch ahnt' ich nicht, weil Nebel mich umschwammen,
Gewoben vom verblendenden Geschicke,
Daß sich der Strahl bereits zur Heimkehr schicke,
Dorthin, von wannen alle Strahlen stammen.
Ihr wolltet mir mit eurem Leuchten sagen:
Wir möchten nah dir bleiben gerne!
Doch ist uns das vom Schicksal abgeschlagen.
Sieh' uns nur an, denn bald sind wir dir ferne!
Was dir nur Augen sind in diesen Tagen:
In künft'gen Nächten sind es dir nur Sterne.
Now I see well why with such dark flames
Now I see well why with such dark flames
your eyes sparkled so often.
O eyes!
It was as if in one full glance
you could concentrate your entire power.
Yet I did not realize - because mists floated about me,
woven by blinding fate -
that this beam of light was ready to be sent home
to that place whence all beams come.
You would have told me with your brilliance:
we would gladly have stayed near you!
But it is refused by Fate.
Just look at us, for soon we will be far!
What to you are only eyes in these days -
in future nights shall be stars to us.
II
我如今终于明白，如此沉郁地
你这双明眸，何以常对我投以忧伤的眼神。
彷佛就在这一瞥中
你将要竭力全情倾诉。
我茫然如身处迷雾，
命运的网罗已为我织好;
焉知这一道目光正乘风归去，
誓将回到那万千光华的乐土。
你底目光似向我寄语：
“空有愿望与你长相厮守，
命运却不许停留。
不久我们将飘然远去!愿珍惜这一次凝眸!
今日你所见我这双眼睛，
是你未来夜空里的星星。”

3. Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein
Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein,
Und den Kopf ich drehe, ihr entgegen sehe,
Fällt auf ihr Gesicht erst der Blick mir nicht,
Sondern auf die Stelle, näher nach der Schwelle,
Dort, wo würde dein lieb Gesichten sein,
Wenn du freudenhelle trätest mit herein,
Wie sonst, mein Töchterlein.
Wenn dein Mütterlein tritt zur Tür herein,
Mit der Kerze Schimmer, ist es mir, als immer
Kämst due mit herein, huschtest hinterdrein,
Als wie sonst ins Zimmer!
O du, des Vaters Zelle,
Ach, zu schnell erloschner Freudenschein!
When your mother steps into the doorway
When your mother steps into the doorway
and I turn my head to see her,
my gaze does not alight first on her face,
but on the place nearer to the threshhold;
there, where your dear face would be
when you would step in with bright joy,
as you used to, my little daughter.
When your mother steps into the doorway
with the gleam of a candle, it always seems to me as if
you came in as well, slipping in behind her,
just as you used to come into the room!
O you, a father's cell,
alas! how quickly you extinguish the gleam of joy!
III
当你妈妈推门进来，
我蓦然回首迎望;
我底目光所到
却先不是她的脸庞;
我怅然望向门楹，
寻觅你脸儿的踪影，
看你笑靥上璀璨的光毫
是否接着妈妈的步履来到;
宛如往昔……
小女儿啊我的挚爱。
当你妈妈提着蜡烛进来，
我底心愿难以按捺;
在摇曳的烛光里，
踏着碎步的你是否相与伴随!
宛如往昔……
小女儿啊爸爸的挚爱，
你那绚烂的笑靥
为何这样早便遭泯灭?

4. Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen
Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen!
Bald werden sie wieder nach Hause gelangen!
Der Tag ist schön! O sei nicht bang!
Sie machen nur einen weiten Gang!
Jawohl, sie sind nur ausgegangen
Und werden jetzt nach Hause gelangen!
O, sei nicht bang, der Tag is schön!
Sie machen nur den Gang zu jenen Höh'n!
Sie sind uns nur vorausgegangen
Und werden nicht wieder nach Hause gelangen!
Wir holen sie ein auf jenen Höh'n
Im Sonnenschein!
Der Tag is schön auf jenen Höh'n!
Often I think that they have only stepped out
Often I think that they have only stepped out -
and that soon they will reach home again!
The day is fair - O don't be afraid!
They are only taking a long walk.
Yes: they have only stepped out
and will now return home!
O don't be anxious - the day is fair!
They are only taking a walk to those hills.
They have simply gone on ahead:
they will not wish to return home.
We'll catch up to them on those hills
in the sunshine!
The day is fair on those hills.
IV
我常以为，他们只是出去闯闯!
不久便将作归家郎!
今日天清气爽，且莫惊惶!
他们或只放棹远方。
但愿，他们只是出去闯闯，
此时此刻，或许回家有望!
且莫惊惶，今日天清气爽!
他们只是要攀越那高岗!
他们不过比我们先走，
也许从此不再愿回头!
陟彼高岗，我们誓将赶上，
陟彼高岗，红霞满目，天清气爽!

5. In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus
In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus,
Nie hätt' ich gesendet die Kinder hinaus;
Man hat sie getragen hinaus,
Ich durfte nichts dazu sagen!
In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus,
Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus,
Ich fürchtete sie erkranken;
Das sind nun eitle Gedanken.
In diesem Wetter, in diesem Graus,
Nie hätt' ich gelassen die Kinder hinaus;
Ich sorgte, sie stürben morgen,
Das ist nun nicht zu besorgen.
In diesem Wetter, in diesem Saus, in diesem Braus,
Sie ruh'n als wie in der Mutter Haus,
Von keinem Sturm erschrecket,
Von Gottes Hand bedecket.
In this weather, in this windy storm
In this weather, in this windy storm,
I would never have sent the children out;
They were carried outside -
I could say nothing about it!
In this weather, in this roaring storm,
I would never have let the children out.
I was afraid they had falllen ill,
but these thoughts are now idle.
In this weather, in this cruel storm,
I would never have let the children out;
I was worried they would die the next day -
but this is now no concern.
In this weather, in this roaring, cruel storm,
they rest as they did in their mother's house:
they are frightened by no storm,
and are covered by the hand of God.
V
在这风雨飘摇的时候，
我绝不会让孩子们出游;
如今他们却被带走，
我却无法挽留。
在这风雨如晦的时候，
我本不会让孩子们出游;
犹恐招来病魔的诅咒，
但如今这都枉自绸缪。
在这风雨交加的时候，
我绝不该让孩子们出游;
怕他们明天便遭逢毒手，
但如今这已不用担忧。
在这风雨飘摇的时候，
我绝不会让孩子们出游;
如今他们却被带走，
我竟无力挽留。
在这风雨凄凄的时候，
他们终可安息，
如在母亲怀内，
无惧漫天风雨，
天主为汝披盖，
他们终可安息，
如在母亲怀内。