Schliesse mir die Augen beide
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Schliesse mir die Augen beide is a poem by Theodor Storm, twice set to music by Alban Berg. Berg composed his first setting in 1907, dedicating it to his future wife. The second version was composed in 1925 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Universal Edition music publisher. This second setting was Berg's first fully-fledged 12 tone composition, and he re-used its tone row in the first movement of the Lyric Suite for string quartet of 1926.
The text is as follows:
Schliesse mir die Augen beide
mit den lieben Händen zu!
Geht doch alles, was ich leide,
unter deiner Hand zur Ruh.
Und wie leise sich der Schmerz
Well' um Welle schlafen leget,
wie der letzte Schlag sich reget,
füllest du mein ganzes Herz.
Close both my eyes
with your beloved hands!
Let all my suffering
gain rest beneath your hand.
And as gently the pain
wave upon wave lies in sleep,
As the last blow falls
you fill my whole heart.
