Der unberufne Rath

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English translation at the bottom

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Intro

Dark Baroque

Harpsichord, low strings, distant chamber choir

Slow, solemn, restrained

Instrumental

Verse

Male Baritone, grave and controlled

Noch ruht der enge Kreis im Gleichmaß seiner Sitten,

Dieweil ein Zeugniß, stumm und ohne Schrift und Hand,

Von seinem Herrn sich löst, von keinem Aug erkannt;

Der steht, als wär ihm nichts aus seinem Bann entglitten.

Short Instrumental Interlude

Low strings rising

Subtle tension

Verse

Baritone, increasingly suspicious

Des einen Stirne zuckt, als hätt er Schmach erlitten;

Dem nächsten ist im Aug der Argwohn jäh entbrannt;

Ein jeder hält Gericht, von keiner Macht ernannt,

Und jedem hat ein Blick die Unschuld schon bestritten.

Build

Cellos and violas intensify

Harpsichord pulse

Whispering choir enters

Growing unease

Verse

More dramatic, measured

Er aber leiht sein Aug den ungewissen Zeugen

Und sieht des Nachbars Haupt sich unterm Urtheil beugen;

Sein Antlitz bleibt der Stein, um den die Klage fließt.

Break

Sudden near-silence

Single harpsichord notes

Low choir drone

Final Verse

Baritone, darkly majestic

Den andern schreibt die Furcht ins Angesicht die Fragen;

Er läßt den eignen Blick die gleichen Lettern tragen

Und sucht in fremden Zügen, was seine Brust verschließt.

Instrumental

End

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English translation

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Intro

Dark Baroque

Harpsichord, low strings, distant chamber choir

Slow, solemn, restrained

Instrumental

Verse

Male Baritone, grave and controlled

The close-knit circle still abides in its accustomed order,

Whilst silent testimony, wrought by neither pen nor hand,

Slips from its master, unperceived by any eye;

And he stands as though naught had passed beyond his sway.

Short Instrumental Interlude

Low strings rising

Subtle tension

Verse

Baritone, increasingly suspicious

One brow begins to twitch, as though its bearer had suffered shame;

Within another's eyes, suspicion suddenly takes flame;

Each sits in judgment, though no power appointed him,

And each has had his innocence denied by but a glance.

Build

Cellos and violas intensify

Harpsichord pulse

Whispering choir enters

Growing unease

Verse

More dramatic, measured

Yet he, too, lends his gaze unto the uncertain witnesses,

And sees his neighbour's head bow low beneath their judgment;

His countenance remains the stone round which accusation flows.

Break

Sudden near-silence

Single harpsichord notes

Low choir drone

Final Verse

Baritone, darkly majestic

Upon the others' faces, fear inscribes its questions;

He lets his own gaze bear those selfsame letters,

And seeks upon another's brow what his own breast keeps sealed.

Instrumental

End