“In den Wäldern des Lebens” - “In the Forests of Life” -Tonepoem for Orchestra with Two Actors After Poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Composer: Anthony Gustav Morris
Ref: AGM-2011-02-02
12 Minutes
January 2011
Status: Score and parts available (rental)
January 2011
Status: Score and parts available (rental)
Commission for the Orchestra of the Graz Music University based in Oberschützen, Austria
“Gefunden” and “Nähe des Geliebten”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Please see video for translations. (Use subtitles).
DIRECTION:
A male voice of the character of a young naive but intelligent youth in his early 20's. A general attitude of surprise and fascination with life and natural beauty should be preserved. A heavy declamatory manner should be avoided. He has good intentions, he thinks basically that everything he sees and can appreciate is made purely for his benefit and that what he does with such things can never be wrong. He can be bright, having spent the introduction of the piece possibly with his head in his hands sitting pondering the world and his need for the perfect romantic love. A Prince without a Princess and as yet without self-doubt.
Text:
Gefunden
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ich ging im Walde
So für mich hin,
Und nichts zu suchen,
Das war mein Sinn.
Im Schatten sah ich
Ein Blümchen stehn,
Wie Sterne leuchtend,
Wie Äuglein schön.
Ich wollt es brechen,
Da sagt es fein:
Soll ich zum Welken
Gebrochen sein?
Ich grub's mit allen
Den Würzlein aus.
Zum Garten trug ich's
Am hübschen Haus.
Und pflanzt es wieder
Am stillen Ort;
Nun zweigt es immer
Und blüht so fort.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Please see video for translations. (Use subtitles).
DIRECTION:
A male voice of the character of a young naive but intelligent youth in his early 20's. A general attitude of surprise and fascination with life and natural beauty should be preserved. A heavy declamatory manner should be avoided. He has good intentions, he thinks basically that everything he sees and can appreciate is made purely for his benefit and that what he does with such things can never be wrong. He can be bright, having spent the introduction of the piece possibly with his head in his hands sitting pondering the world and his need for the perfect romantic love. A Prince without a Princess and as yet without self-doubt.
Text:
Gefunden
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ich ging im Walde
So für mich hin,
Und nichts zu suchen,
Das war mein Sinn.
Im Schatten sah ich
Ein Blümchen stehn,
Wie Sterne leuchtend,
Wie Äuglein schön.
Ich wollt es brechen,
Da sagt es fein:
Soll ich zum Welken
Gebrochen sein?
Ich grub's mit allen
Den Würzlein aus.
Zum Garten trug ich's
Am hübschen Haus.
Und pflanzt es wieder
Am stillen Ort;
Nun zweigt es immer
Und blüht so fort.
DIRECTION:
The tone is that of abandoned truthful innocence. The true heartfelt lamenting of a love whose absence is strongly felt but with a helpless undertone of emotional dependence struck by abandonment and the knowledge that the words are only reflecting the personal grief and not any direct communication with another. The text must be heard but in a definitely non-aggressive tone.
Text:
Nähe des Geliebten
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Ich denke dein, wenn mir der Sonne Schimmer
vom Meere strahlt;
Ich denke dein, wenn sich des Mondes Flimmer
In Quellen malt.
Ich sehe dich, wenn auf dem fernen Wege
Der Staub sich hebt;
In tiefer Nacht, wenn auf dem schmalen Stege
Der Wandrer bebt.
Ich höre dich, wenn dort mit dumpfem Rauschen
Die Welle steigt.
Im stillen Haine geh' ich oft zu lauschen,
Wenn alles schweigt.
Ich bin bei dir; du seist auch noch so ferne,
Du bist mir nah!
Die Sonne sinkt, bald leuchten mir die Sterne.
O, wärst du da!
Whereas the first male character looks upwards boldly to an unknown but enthusiastically expectant future, the female character is pensive and looks downwards in reflection.
@2011 anthony g morris, agm digital arts GmbH
First Performance: Haydn Festival Eisenstadt, 28th May 2011
