The
Heavens are Telling (Die Himmel erzählen) from Franz Joseph Haydn's 'The
Creation' (Die Schöpfung) is perhaps one of the most awe inspiring oratorio choruses in the
repertoire (both to sing and to listen to). We have added the German
libretto underneath (scholars' comments welcome).
The
Heavens are Telling the Glory of God
Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
Chorus:
The
heavens are telling the glory of God; . . .
Die Himmel er-zäh-len Die Eh re Got tes;
. . .
The wonder of his works displays the firmament, . . .
Und seiner Han de Werk zeigt an das Firmament, . . .
The wonder of his works displays the firmament, . . .
Und seiner Han de Werk zeigt an das Firmament. . . .
Trio:
Today that is coming speaks it the day;
. . .
Dem kom-men-den Ta-ge sagt-es der Tag;
. . .
The night that is gone to following night,
Die Nacht die ver-schwand der fol-gen-den Nacht,
The night that is gone to following night.
Die Nacht die ver-schwand der fol-gen-den Nacht.
Chorus:
The
heavens are telling the glory of God;
Die Himmel er- zäh-len Die Eh re Got
tes;
The wonder of his works, the wonder of his works,
Und seiner Han de Werk, Und seiner Han de Werk
Displays the firmament, . . .
zeigt an das Firmament,
The wonder of his works displays the firmament, . . .
Und seiner Han de Werk zeigt an das Firmament . . .
Trio:
In all the lands resounds the word,
In al-le Welt er-geht
das wort,
Never unperceived, ever understood,
Je-dem Oh-re klin-gend, kei-ner Zun-ge fremd,
Ever, ever, ever understood. . . .
kei-ner, kei-ner, kei-ner Zun-ge fremd. . . .
In all the lands resounds the word,
In al-le Welt er-geht das wort,
Never unperceived, ever understood,
Je-dem Oh-re klin-gend, kei-ner Zun-ge fremd,
Ever, ever, ever understood,
kei-ner, kei-ner, kei-ner Zun-ge fremd. . . .
Ever, ever, . . .e-v-e-r, ever understood.
kei-ner, kei-ner, kei-ner--, kei-ner Zun-ge fremd.
Chorus:
The
heavens are telling the glory of God;
Die Himmel er- zäh-len Die Eh re Got tes;
The wonder of his works, the wonder of his works,
Und seiner Han de Werk, Und seiner Han de Werk,
Displays the firmament. . . .
zeigt an das Firmament. . . .
The wonder of his works .
displays the firmament. . .
Und seiner Han de Werk .
. zeigt an das Firmament . . .
The firmament.
Das Firmament.
The wonder of his works displays the firmament,
Und seiner Han de Werk zeigt an das Firmament,
The firmament.
Das Firmament.
The wonder of his works, the wonder of his works,
Und seiner Han de Werk, Und seiner Han de
Werk,
Displays . ., displays . . the firmament.
Zeigt an . ., zeigt an das Firmament.
The
wonder of his works displays the firmament. . . .
Und seiner Han de Werk zeigt an das Firmament. . . .
The wonder of his works, the wonder of his works,
Und seiner Han de Werk, Und seiner Han de Werk,
Displays . ., displays . . the firmament.
Zeigt an . ., zeigt an das Firmament.
The
heavens are telling the glory of God;
Die Himmel er- zäh-len Die Eh re Got tes;
The wonder of his works displays the firmament.
Und seiner Han de Werk zeigt an das Firmament.
Displays the firmament,
zeigt an das Firmament,
Displays . . the firmament,
zeigt an . . das Firmament,
The wonder of his works,
Und seiner Han de Werk,
The wonder of his works,
Und seiner Han de Werk,
Displays . ., displays . . the firmament.
zeigt an . ., zeigt an . . das
Firmament.
The
heavens are telling the glory of God;
Die Himmel er- zäh-len Die Eh re Got tes;
The won . .der of . . his . . works . .
Und seiner Han de Werk . .
Dis . .plays . . ., dis . .plays . . . the firm . .ament,
zeigt an . ., zeigt an . . das
Firmament.
Dis. .plays the firmament,
zeigt an . . das Firmament,
Displays the firmament,
zeigt an das Firmament,
Displays the firmament.
zeigt an das Firmament.
Wow!!
Some chorus isn't it? Spine tingling! And a lovely trio within it. It takes a
lot of work though to match words with notes! A bit more practice, do you think?
Actually it's much simpler when you have the vocal score in front of you. So,
grab your score (or borrow one from your local library) and let's go again. Or,
just wallow in our MusicSmiles
arrangement of Franz Joseph's great musical masterpiece and let others do the
work.
If you get a chance, obtain the disc from the library, or your music
shop, with a full choral society on it.
Better still, go and see (hear) a live performance by a choir of 50 in Concert, or
by a choral society of 100s one of the
great cathedrals. You won't regret it.
Don't
worry if you can't conquer the words immediately, just La it. Think of Franz
Joseph seeing those wonders through William Herschel's telescope in Slough, and
marvel at it all. We're sure Arthur Sullivan did . . .
Would
you like to sing (hear) it again
. . .?.
OR
Let's
return to The
Creation . . .?
