This cycle of 4 songs is set to various Bible texts from the Old and New Testaments. Brahms wrote the piece in 1896, the same year his close friend and possible lover Clara Schumann suffered a stroke. It is speculated that the cycle, characterized by texts about death and the transience of life, was written in anticipation of his friend?s imminent passing. Despite the connection to Clara, the cycle was actually dedicated to Max Klinger, a German artist who used Brahms?s music as inspiration. This set of songs was Brahms?s last.
O Tod, wie bitter bist du,
Oh death, how bitter are you,
Wenn an dich gedenket ein Mensch,
When about you thinks a man,
Der gute Tage und genug hat
Who good days and enough has
Und ohne Sorge lebet;
And without worry lives;
Und dem es wohl geht in allen Dingen
And to him who good goes in all things
Und noch wohl essen mag!
And still well to eat may!
O Tod, wie bitter bist du.
Oh death, how bitter are you.
O Tod, wie wohl tust du dem Dürftigen,
Oh death, how good do you to the needy,
Der da schwach und alt ist,
He that weak and old is,
Der in allen Sorgen steckt,
Who in all troubles is bound,
Und nichts Bessers zu hoffen,
And nothing better to hope for,
Noch zu erwarten hat!
Nor to expect has!
O Tod, wie wohl tust du!
Oh death, how good do you!