Michael John Trotta
Rainer Maria Rilke
SAT(opt Bar) – for emerging choir
About the song . . .
Accessible vocal lines, harmonic interest, and a understated and spirited piano accompaniment, offer an access point to Rilke’s mystical poetry. The addition of the soaring violin double-stops are a musical illustration of the text, “one voice is drawn from two strings.” While the obbligato may be covered by flute in cases where a violin is unavailable, the flute should play the upper notes of each double-stop.
About the text . . .
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) was Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist. Rilke started collecting the poems in 1906 for his 1907 publication New Poems (Neue Gedichte). From this collection the poem Love Song (Libeslied) has been translated by the composer for this work. Known for his mystical poetry characterized by sweeping existential questions, this love song is an exciting journey to an interconnectedness of being that connects those who enter a relationship. The challenge posed is that of fully surrendering without losing oneself in the process. The poet answers the question by likening such a relationship to the strings of a violin, where one song comes forth from two strings. It is in this “sweetest song” (süßes Lied) where the dynamic combination exists as both “one” and “two” at the same time.
Liebeslied
Wie soll ich meine Seele halten, daß
sie nicht an deine rührt?
Wie soll ich sie
hinheben über dich zu andern Dingen?
Ach gerne möcht ich sie bei irgendwas
Verlorenem im Dunkel unterbringen
an einer fremden stillen Stelle, die
nicht weiterschwingt, wenn deine Tiefen schwingen.
Doch alles, was uns anrührt, dich und mich,
nimmt uns zusammen wie ein Bogenstrich,
der aus zwei Saiten eine Stimme zieht.
Auf welches Instrument sind wir gespannt?
Und welcher Spieler hat uns in der Hand?
O süßes Lied.
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