Friday, August 5, 2011

Aufersteh'n

Thanks to Eyes for the heads-up, I've been listening to the Mahler 2nd Symphony live from the BBC Proms, Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra.  I think you are able to listen again, at least for a few days, if you go to the website.

Splendidly done.  I've sung in the chorus for this piece and cannot hear the last movement without crying.  Especially these days.

Here is Leonard Bernstein conducting the final section of last movement.  Part 1:



and Part 2:


 (both clips from tokkemon, thank you!)

Here is the text, with my favorite bits in bold:
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you My dust,
After a brief rest!
Immortal life! Immortal life
Will He who called you, give you.
To bloom again were you sown!
The Lord of the harvest goes
And gathers in, like sheaves,
Us together, who died.
O believe, my heart, O believe:
Nothing to you is lost!
Yours is, yes yours, is what you desired
Yours, what you have loved
What you have fought for!
O believe,
You were not born for nothing!
Have not for nothing, lived, suffered!
What was created
Must perish,
What perished, rise again!
Cease from trembling!
Prepare yourself to live!
O Pain, You piercer of all things,
From you, I have been wrested!
O Death, You masterer of all things,
Now, are you conquered!
With wings which I have won for myself,
In love’s fierce striving,
I shall soar upwards
To the light which no eye has penetrated!
Its wing that I won is expanded,
and I fly up.
Die shall I in order to live.
Rise again, yes, rise again,
Will you, my heart, in an instant!
That for which you suffered,
To God will it lead you!