Ich wandte mich (Johannes Brahms)

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(Posted 2009-07-22) CPDL #19676: (Sibelius 2) (Sibelius 1, fragment)

Editor: Richard Mix (submitted 2009-07-22). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 42 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: transposed down a major second.

(Posted 2009-06-07) CPDL #19606: (Sibelius 4)

Editor: John K. Patterson (submitted 2009-06-07). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 42 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Ich wandte mich
Composer: Johannes Brahms
Source of text: Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, King James Version

Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Baritone solo
Genre: Sacred, Lied

Language: German
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1896
Description: #2 of Vier ernste Gesänge (Johannes Brahms) The Simrock low voice edition puts this song down a semitone instead of a tone, making for awkward transitions.

External websites:

Page for complete opus at IMSLP

Original text and translations

German text

Ich wandte mich und sahe an alle, die Unrecht leiden unter der Sonne;
und siehe, siehe, da waren Tränen derer, die Unrecht litten und hatten keinen Tröster,
und die ihnen Unrecht täten waren zu mächtig, daß sie keinen Tröster haben konnten.
Da lobte ich die Toten, die schon gestorben waren
mehr als die Lebendigen, die noch das Leben hatten;
und der noch nicht ist, ist besser als alle beide,
und des Bösen nicht inne wird, das unter der Sonne geschieht.

English translation

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun:
and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter;
and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead
more than the living which are yet alive.
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been,
who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.