An Sie (Nachruf), Anhang 18 (5.19 MB) (mp3)

An Sie (Nachruf), Anhang 18

This song for solo voice with piano accompaniment in A-flat was published as a Beethoven work for piano or guitar sometime before 1844 by Adolph Nagel in Hanover. The same tune was also published under other composers' names, including Louis Dames and Marianne Czegka. The title means, "To Her" and "Obituary." The author of the text remains unknown.

Nachruf

O Du, nach der sich alle meine Wünsche lenken,
zu Dir spricht meines Herzens Wort,
man fordert streng ich soll nicht Dein gedenken,
doch desto fester, doch desto fester denk ich an Dich fort.
Zwar bist Du nun fern von mir geschieden,,
Du die in schön'rer Zeit mein Auge sah',
gieb Hoffnung mir Erinnerung und Frieden;
ich sehe Dich, ich sehe Dich, Du bist mir nah.



So bald die Sterne an dem Himmel strahlen,
gedenk ich holdes Mädchen, Dein.  
Sie einem sich, Dein süsses Bild zu malen,
in Flammen Zügen, in Flammen Zügen wie im heil'gen Schein.
Der ganze Himmel senkt sich dann hernieder,
die Erde flicht Du bist Geliebte, da,
o! hauche mir Erinnerung und Frieden,
ich sehe Dich, ich sehe Dich, Du bist mir nah.


Du trägst die Bilder schön'rer Zeit so treu herüber,
und schwebst als Schutzgeist um mich her,
doch schweigst Du jetzt, dies macht mein Leben trüber,
o es ertönet, o es ertönet Dein Gesang nicht mehr.
O traure nicht, tönt die Saite leise, 
der Hoffung,wie der Ruhe süsses Wort,
wohl, wohl ist mir in meinem stillen Gleise,
o theures Bild, o theures Bild, so schwebe fort.

English translation by Mark S. Zimmer:

Obituary

O Thou, after I have made all my wishes,
my heart speaks to you saying,
I should not remember you, is what is demanded.
But the harder, but the harder I think of you gone,
Even though you are now set so far away from me,
You had in more beautiful times caught my eye,
You give me hope, remembrance and peace;
I see you, I see you, You are near me.

How soon the stars shine in the sky,
as a memorial to you, young woman.
Your sweet visage is painted 
in flaming features, in flaming features, as a holy glow.
The whole sky then descends down
until you are mistress of the earth,
o! I breathe peace and remembrance,
I see you, I see you, you are near me.

You carry the beautiful images so faithfully through time,
and as a guardian spirit hover over me,
but you are now silent, it makes my life dreary,
o you play, o you play not your song.
O grieve not, the string sounds softly
of hope, that sweet word lest me rest,
comfortable, comfortable in my quiet tracks,
o dear image, o dear image, so o'er me hover.

WoO: Anh. 18
Hess: Anh. 39

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