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Joshua Shank
Joshua Shank (B&F Music)
Sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen
This lyrical piece uses a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke in its original German.
SSA, piano
This lyrical piece for treble voices uses a beautiful poem by Rainer Maria Rilke sung in its original language. If you’d like to give your singers some experience singing in German, this piece serves as a great opportunity.
Composer’s Notes
As with any poem by Rilke, this one is a bit of a mystery. He describes observing a woman drinking tea with a group of (presumably) her friends and we are told very little about her. Rather than focus on what’s different about this woman (something which is only revealed to the reader via the title of the poem) I chose to center my attention on the beautiful sense of freedom in the final line of text.
“Sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen” was commissioned by the Association for Music in International Schools and received its premiere in Vienna in April of 2012
– Joshua Shank
Text
Sie saß so wie die anderen beim Tee.
She sat just like the others having tea.
Mir war zuerst, als ob sie ihre Tasse <br>
I noticed first how she seemed to hold her cup
ein wenig anders als die andern fasse.
a little differently from the others.
Sie lächelte einmal. Es tat fast weh.
She smiled once. It almost hurt.
Und als man schließlich sich erhob und sprach
And when finally they all rose and spoke
und langsam und wie es der Zufall brachte
and slowly and as chance determined
durch viele Zimmer ging (man sprach und lachte),
walked through many rooms (they spoke and laughed),
da sah ich sie. Sie ging den andern nach,
I saw her, She walked behind the others,
verhalten, so wie eine, welche gleich
restrained, like one who in a moment
wird singen müssen und vor vielen Leuten;
will have to sing before many people;
auf ihren hellen Augen, die sich freuten,
on her bright eyes that were rejoicing
war Licht von außen wie auf einem Teich.
There was light from outside, as on a pond.
Sie folgte langsam, und sie brauchte lang,
She followed slowly and she needed time
als wäre etwas noch nicht überstiegen;
as though something still were not surmounted;
und doch: als ob, nach einem Übergang,
and yet: as though, after a crossing-over,
sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen.
she would no longer walk, but fly.
– Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
– Translation by Edward Snow
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