I will have more to say later about Gurrelieder and the circumstances and age in which it was conceived. But for now, here is a performance of the famous "Lied der Waldtaube" in a performance by Michelle De Young during a performance conducted by Seiji Ozawa at the Saito Kinen Festival in 2005. A portion in the middle was edited out, but I have nevertheless grown fond of this particular performance. The rough translation reflecting the cut is mine (suggestions and corrections gladly accepted) and is provided in a format that can be used as sur- or sub-titles by linking to this post in another window and adjusting the split screen appropriately.
Tauben von Gurre! Sorge quält mich,
vom Weg über die Insel her!
Doves of Gurre! I am full of sorrow,
from making my way over the island!
Kommet! Lauschet!
Come! Listen!
Tot ist Tove! Nacht auf ihrem Auge,
das der Tag des Königs war!
Tove is dead! Night is in her eye,
which was the King's day!
Still ist ihr Herz,
doch des Königs Herz schlägt wild,
tot und doch wild!
Her heart is silent,
but the King's heart beats wild,
Dead, yet wild!
Seltsam gleichend einem Boot
auf der Woge,
Strangely like a boat
on the wave,
wenn der, zu dess' Empfang
die Planken huldigend
sich gekrümmt,
when, in greeting
the planks in homage
bent,
des Schiffes Steurer tot liegt,bent,
verstrickt in der Tiefe Tang.
the ship's helmsman lies dead,
entangled in the weeds of the deep.
Keiner bringt ihnen Botschaft,
unwegsam der Weg.
There is no message,
the road is impassable.
Wie zwei Ströme
waren ihre Gedanken,
Ströme gleitend Seit' an Seite.
Like two streams
were their thoughts,
Streams flowing side by side.
Wo strömen nun Toves Gedanken?
Where do Tove's thoughts flow now?
Die des Königs winden sich
seltsam dahin,
Those of the King wind
strangely here,
strangely here,
suchen nach denen Toves,
finden sie nicht.
searching for those of Tove,
finding nothing.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Der König öffnet Toves Sarg,
starrt und lauscht
mit bebenden Lippen,
The King opens Tove's coffin,
Stares and listens
with quivering lips,
Tove ist stumm!
Tove is silent!
Weit flog ich, Klage sucht' ich,
fand gar viel!
I flew far, sought grief,
and found it aplenty!
Wollt' ein Mönch am Seile ziehn,
Abendsegen läuten;
A monk went to pull the bell rope
for the evening's prayers;
doch er sah den Wagenlenker
und vernahm die Trauerbotschaft:
but then he saw the coachman
and heard the horrible news:
Sonne sank, indes die Glocke
Grabgeläute tönte.
The sun sank, while the bell
tolled the death knell.
Weit flog ich, Klage sucht' ich
und den Tod!
I flew far, sought grief
and death!
Helwigs Falke war's, der grausam
Gurres Taube zerriß.
Helwig's falcon it was, who cruelly
tore apart Gurre's dove.
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