Vocal Score
Judith Weir
BLOND ECKBERT after Ludwig Tieck’s Der blonde Eckbert
Pocket Version (2006)
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SYNOPSIS Act 1 Flying Prelude A bird is telling a story to a dog: ‘In a region of the Harz Mountains, there lived a man who was known as the Blond Eckbert. He led a secluded life, and was never involved in the feuds of his neighbours’. Eckbert’s home becomes visible, situated amidst the wild beauty of a mountain landscape. Scene 1: Eckbert and Berthe At Home Eckbert and Berthe are in their drawing room. Eckbert is anxiously awaiting the arrival of his friend Walther. Scene 2: Walther has arrived Walther arrives and tells enthusiastically of his travels on the mountain, and of its natural wonders. He asks to stay the night. Eckbert suggests that, to pass the last hours before midnight, Berthe should tell Walther the story of her youth ‘because it’s very strange and interesting’. Berthe agrees to do this – the first time she has spoken this evening – but she asks Walther ‘do not take my story for a fairy tale, however strange it may seem’. Scene 3: Berthe’s Ballad Berthe tells her story in the form of an extended drawing-room ballad. The actors and scenery in her story emerge from the confines of the drawing room – from behind the sofa, from under the rug, and so on. Or perhaps she simply shows Walther a home-movie of her life. The bird and dog play the parts of the bird and the dog in this story. Her story is basically this: ‘I was born into a peasant family. I was thought of as stupid and clumsy. Eventually my parents were so angry with me that I escaped from home. I passed through difficult, hilly country until I came to a lush mountain pasture. An old woman found me, exhausted and starving, and took me to live in her house. She had a pet dog with which I used to play – I’ve forgotten its name – and a bird in a cage, which said intelligent things, and laid precious stones instead of eggs. The woman taught me to spin, which I turned out to be brilliantly talented at, and she was very pleased with me. Presently she took to leaving me at home working, whilst she went on long expeditions. Years passed in this way, and I was content, but I was still curious about my family, and eventually my curiosity got the better of me. One day, after the old woman went out, I tied up the dog, took a pocketful of the precious stones, and left with the bird in its cage. But as I travelled, the bird, still talkative, became abusive and accusatory, so I let it out of the cage and it flew away. After a long journey I arrived back at the village of my youth, but there was no-one there who remembered me – my parents were long since dead. I sold the precious stones, and with the wealth that this gave me, settled down in the district. I met Eckbert and we got married – we are still living on the proceeds of those precious stones, as Eckbert had no wealth of his own’. Leaving to go to bed, Walther thanks Berthe: ‘you told the story so vividly – I could just imagine you playing with that friendly little dog, Strohmian’: he goes up to bed. Scene 4: Strohmian! Strohmian! It is a Hitchcockian moment. How did Walther know the name which Berthe has never been able to remember? Berthe also leaves for bed, fascinated; but Eckbert stays in the room, alone, and his illease takes him over. He replays the scene in his mind (and perhaps visibly) over and over – each time he thinks about it, Walther appears to be a more malevolent character. The night passes in this way. As dawn breaks, Eckbert hears Walther leaving the house unobtrusively, off on another mountain walk. Eckbert follows him out, taking a crossbow with him.
Act II Prelude: Walther’s Death A cold outdoor landscape. Walther walks through the trees absorbed in studying the leaves and the moss that he finds growing. Eckbert stalks him; eventually he shoots. The arrow’s course is seen in very slow motion – an aerial ballet. Walther drops dead, and Eckbert rushes away. Scene 1: Berthe’s Last Words Out of the darkness following Walther’s death, Berthe emerges, anxious and on her deathbed, writing a letter to Eckbert. She describes her bewilderment and terror at Walther’s revelations. Scene 2: Accusation Eckbert finds himself alone in urban surroundings. A stranger emerges from the throng, and introduces himself as Hugo. With warmth and kindness, Hugo befriends Eckbert, and calms him down somewhat. As they walk Eckbert tells Hugo his version of the story; at first he feels that Hugo receives what he says sympathetically, but then, suddenly, he begins to think that Hugo is growing suspicious and critical of him. As they meet other walkers, it seems to Eckbert that Hugo is taking them aside and warning them about his evil nature. Then, as he looks at Hugo, he sees Walther’s face. Eckbert runs away. Scene 3: Eckbert, fugitive In seclusion, Eckbert finds himself in the countryside, in the landscape described by Berthe in her ballad. It is a jagged and uncomfortable journey. At one point he seems to recognise a passer by – as Walther. Scene 4: At the End Eventually, at the crest of a hill, he sees the old woman’s house; the dog is playing; the bird is chattering away. The way is barred by the old woman, who tells Eckbert ‘I was Walther; I was Hugo’ – and she reveals herself briefly as both these characters. Then she tells Eckbert ‘Berthe was your sister; your parents abandoned her in that village’. Eckbert cries ‘Why have I always imagined this dreadful thing?’. She replies ‘In your childhood you once heard your father talk about it; he could not keep his daughter, because she was the child of another woman. She was raised by a shepherd.’ At this moment – at the extreme point of Eckbert’s agony – the bird closes off the scene, finishing the story she has been telling for the duration of the opera, and flies away, chased by the dog.
The original version of this work was commissioned by English National Opera with funds provided by the Geoffrey C. Hughes Charitable Trust. It was first performed by English National Opera at the London Coliseum on 20th April 1994. The Pocket Version was commissioned by The Opera Group and Sequitur. It was first performed on 14th June 2006, at Linbury at the Royal Opera House, London, by The Opera Group (Owen Gilhooly, baritone; Heather Shipp, mezzo-soprano; Claire Wild, soprano; Mark Wilde, tenor; Patrick Bailey, conductor).
CAST Blond Eckbert
baritone
Berthe, his wife
mezzo-soprano
Walther, his friend/Hugo, his friend/An old woman
tenor
A bird
soprano
A dog
non-singing role
Chorus (Act II Scene 2 only)
S.A.T. (sung by members of the cast)
ORCHESTRA Oboe 2 clarinets in B (2nd doubling bass clarinet) 2 horns in F Harp 2 violins 2 cellos
Duration: c. 60 minutes Study score on sale: Order No. CH71016 Vocal score on sale: Order No. CH71016-01 Conductor's score, vocal score and parts on hire
Blond Eckbert Judith Weir
Act I Flying Prelude = 72 : Animato
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A bird flies across the stage, pursued by a dog. 3
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Š Copyright 2006 Chester Music Ltd.
CH71016-01
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energico
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Bird Ah.
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The bird settles 52 Bird Ah.
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down, and begins to tell the dog a story. 55 Bird ...in
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a
re
gion
of
the
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Bird Harz
moun tains,
there lived a
man who was known as the
Blond
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Eckbert’s home becomes visible, situated amidst the wild beauty of a mountain landscape
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Bird Eck
bert.
He
led
a
se clud ed
life,
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Bird and was
ne ver in volved in the feuds of his
neigh
bours.
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sempre 3
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72 Bird
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His
wife
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.
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Bird loved
so
li
tude as much as
he;
they ap
peared
to
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81 Bird love each
o
ther deep
85
ly.
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Bird Mo de
ra
tion
reigned
in
his home;
tem
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Bird go verned his house hold.
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.
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pe rance
7 93 Bird On his own,
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Bird a
cer
tain re
serve
stole
o
ver
him,
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Bird a
still,
re
tir
ing
me lan cho
ly. 3
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attacca
Scene 1: Eckbert and Berthe At Home Eckbert and Berthe, at home in their drawing room. Eckbert stares out of the window. Berthe is absorbed in some domestic task. 107
= 116 : con fuoco 3
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quiet, withdrawn 144
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Eck. How
late
it
is, 3 3
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166 Eck. How
sul len the
sky.
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= 80: Animato 188
suddenly, a little animated
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Eck. How
soon the clouds
fly
past.
Is that a
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Eck. 3
light
in the dis
tance? 3
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Bird A fre quent 3
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guest was named Wal ther* 3
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Bird to whom he 3
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tached
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him self
af
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Bird find ing his
way
of
think
ing
the
same as
his
own.
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again, more detached 204
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Eck. 3
He seems to know the paths
well. 3
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* Walther: anglicised pronunciation (soft ‘w’, hard ‘th’). .
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ter
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Bird Wal 3 3
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,
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Bird ther’s home was in
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co
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Bird But he of ten vi
si
ted Eck
bert’s neigh
bour hood,
ga ther ing plants 3
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and stones,
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Bird and sort
ing them out.
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Eck. 3
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He seems to
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Bird He 3
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lived
on a
le
ga
cy,
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Eck. come near er, then far
ther a
way.
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Bird and was con nec ted with no one. 3
a little animated Eck.
Can it be 3
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Bird
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Eck bert
fre quent ly
Eck. Wal
ther?
It’s so
late! 3 3
.
joined
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Bird him,
in
his
se
que
stered walks,
and their friend
ship
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Bird grew
e
ver more in
ti mate.
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(to himself) Eck.
There 3
are
times 3
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237 Eck. when it is a grief
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240 Eck. to have
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Eck. a ny sec rets at all. 3
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poco
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Eck. In
such hours,
the
soul
longs
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to
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251
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Eck. dis
close
to
a
friend;
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Eck. in
such
mo
ments
the
gen
tle
re veal
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.
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Eck. them
selves,
and
yet
it
can
hap
pen
that
one
can
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Eckbert sees Walther’s face through the window.
3
Eck. - coil
with fear from the
3
face of the o
ther:
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Scene 2: Walther Has Arrived Walther enters. In the first moments, he appears in a sinister light, but when he starts to sing, he is amiable and disarmingly enthusiastic. He is perhaps festooned with greenery and specimens gathered during his recent expedition.
= 96: Misterioso
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.
re
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Walt. 8
I
found my
path,
deep in the
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with
the
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Walt. 8
moun tains, 3
rush ing of wa ter and rus tle of
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.
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trees;
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Walt. 8
I
mused
on
how
I had
left my fa mi
liar home, 3
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Walt. 8
a way from the round of the 3
e ver re cur
ring com mon place.
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Walt. 8
I
sat on the bank of a
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Walt. 8
brook that foamed,
re gret ting
I could not com
pre hend its speech,
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Walt. 8
but then
I looked, and it seemed I was cheer ful and hap
I seized new cou rage, and 3
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py.
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star ted to sing in
a ring
ing voice,
a me lo di ous 3
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304 Walt. 8
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.
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hunts
man’s song:
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Walt. 8
Through
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the
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woods
the
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Walt. 8
horns
re 3
soun
ding, from
the
rocks 3
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the
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cries re boun ding;
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‘Wel come, hun ter bro ther hood!’ 3
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Walt. 8
While
I
sang,
the sun sank
deep in the west, 3
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Walt. 8
and there were sha
dows
on
the ground.
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Walt. 8
My
.
dear
est friends,
the hour was
late -
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I
thought of
Walt. 8
you
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Walt. 8
at
home
and
safe. 3
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Poco pi첫 mosso 3
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impulsively 339
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Eck. Stay,
spend the night
in friend ly con
ver sa tion.
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Eck.
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Sleep
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un til mor ning
in
one of our rooms.
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Eck.
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3 3
ther,
my friend,
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Wal
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(343)
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Eck. I have long meant to tell you . . . .
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Eck. I
mean,
you must let my wife
ex plain.
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.
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25 (346)
347
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Eck. It 3
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is
the his
to
ry
of
her youth.
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348 Eck. It
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is strange,
but
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(349)
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They settle down.
Eck. it
will
in
terest you.
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Walt. 8
Glad 3
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ly.
26 353
to Walther, with intensity and concentration
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Bert. Pro
mise
me one
thing;
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Bert. what
e
ver hap pens,
how
e
ver strange
it
3
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359
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Bert. may
sound,
do
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Bert. for
.
a
fai
ry tale.
not
take
my
sto
ry
27
Scene 3: Berthe’s Ballad
she tells her story with energy and complete involvement.
= 108 : semplice
367
with sudden animation 3
Bert. I
was born
in
a
small
vil lage,
we lived in
a
hut;
my
fa
ther
3
371 Bert. was
a
poor
shep
herd.
Life
3
375 Bert. did not
go well
for
my
pa rents -
their moods
were black,
and they had no
i 3
379 Bert. - dea
how they were go
ing
to
feed
and
clothe
a child.
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3
.
28
3 3
383
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387
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Bert. I
was
awk
ward
and clum sy, I
was
al
ways
3
391
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Bert. drop
ping things;
I
could not
learn to
sew
or spin,
but
I
3
396
3
Bert. un
der
stood
my
pa
rents’ mi
se 3
3 3
.
3
3
3
ry;
I
of
ten
29 399
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Bert. dreamed
of
sud
den
wealth,
and
how
I
would shower
them 3
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402
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Bert. with
gold
and
pre
cious
trea
sures.
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405
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410
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Bert. My fa
ther
was
al
ways an
gry
be
cause
I
was
a
bur
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Bert. den
on the house
hold;
he 3
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422
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Bert. pu nished me most
harsh
ly;
I
de 3
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3 3
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3
426 Bert.
5
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5 3
3 .
5
5
ci ded to es 3
3
cape. 3
31
430
3
Bert. I
crept
out
5
furtive
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434
5
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3
Bert. when day
be gan to
dawn.
I found my self in
3
3
o
pen fields, 3
3 3
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439
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5
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Bert. and then
a
fo
rest
with out the light of
day, 3
5
5
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5
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442
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Bert. and then through boul ders
to
the moun
tain side; 3
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.
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fear drove me 3
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446
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Bert. on -
I
al
most
fain
ted
with
ter
ror.
3
3
449
454
eroica
3
Bert. I
458
ga thered all
my
strength;
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3
Bert. I
.
walked
fas
ter and then
I
saw
woods
and mea dows,
dis
tant,
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462
6
Bert. plea
sant hills,
and then I saw an old 6
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466
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Bert. wo
man
dressed
in
black,
and
she 3
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3
so
subito
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470
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Bert. led me to her house
which was with in
a val ley full of birch
trees. 3
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473
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3
Bird Ah.
.
3
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
34
478
3
3
3
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
Bert. As
483
3
we
de
3
3
scen
ded,
I
3
heard
a
mar
vel
lous
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
Bert. song,
487
3
as
3
3
3
3
3
if
from
a
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Bert. bird,
and
it
sang:
3
3
.
3
3
3
35 suddenly blunt and shrewd 491 Bird * Wald
495
ein
3
sam
3
Bird - keit
I
feel
499
all
right;
A
3
lone
in
3
Bird wood,
things
go
as
they should.
503 Bird Wald
* German pronunciation .
ein
sam
keit.
All
day
and all
night;
a
36
508
staccatissimo
512
3
3
Bird Ah.
Bert. You would have thought the horn
3
515
and the
3
o
boe were play
ing.
3
3
Bird Ah.
519
3
3
Ah.
3
3
Ah.
3
3
Meno mosso:
= 72
Bird Ah.
Ah.
6
.
6
37
523
3
3
3
Bert. In
side
the
house
there was the bird
in its
cage,
and
6
526
3
Bert. be
side
it
a
lit tle
dog
was
play
ing.
3
6
[SPOKEN:]
529 Bert.
Now what was his name?
That lit tle dog!
I can never remember....
: deliberate 6
532
3
3
.
3
38
535 Bert. And
in
the
3
morn
3
3
ing
3
she
3
3
538 Bert. taught me
to
spin,
which
I
ea
si
ly
learned;
sim.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
541 Bert. and she gave
3
3
3
me
the
3
3
care
3
of the dog
3
3
3
and
3
the bird.
3
3
that
this
544 Bert. Soon 3
3
.
3
3
3
I
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
felt
3
3
way
it
should
3
3
3
was the
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
39
547 Bert. be;
that the wo man
was
not
ve ry strange,
3
3
550 Bert. and her dwel ling
was
nor
mal
and
com mon,
3
3
3
553 Bert. but the
3
3
3
3
3
556
bird,
3
3
the bird!
3
with its
3
3
3
song
3
3
and its beau
3
3
3
ti
ful
3
3
3
Bert. fea thers
3
.
of
3
my
3
ri
3
3
3
3
3
ad
co
3
lours:
3
3
that was not
40
559 Bert. nor
mal,
that
was
won drous
ly
odd,
and
stran
ger
and
pearls!
562 Bert. far;
it
seemed
to
lay
eggs
which were
je wels
565 Bert. We stored them
in
jars
,
568 Bert. a
way.
,
.
and
hid
them
by
41
571 Bert. Time
passed,
and
I
was
574 Bert. trus
ted:
she would
tra
vel
lit
tle
a
far
577 Bert. and
leave
me
in
so
li
tude.
580 Bert. My
.
spin
ning
wheel hummed,
the
dog barked,
the
42 583 Bird Ah.
Ah.
Bert. mar
vel
lous
bird
sang
its
song:
3
587
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah. 3
Bert. No
3
3
3
one came there by
3
590
3
3
3
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
Bert. chance,
3
.
there was
3
3
3
calm all
3
a
round,
and
3
I
ne
3
ver
re
43 593 Bird
Bert. - mem
ber
a
storm
cloud.
3
596
= 92 : Poco agitato 599
3
3
Bert. My
602
3
un
der stan
ding grew;
3
Bert. my in
no cence left
me,
3 3
.
the
sun
shone,
44 606 Bert. the
611
trees
glis tened,
I thought of the out
side world.
3
Bert. I thought of
es
cape!
I
found
the
3
615 3
Bert. mo ment:
I tied up the
dog,
I
seized
the
3
619 Bert. bird,
.
I
stole
the stones....
Down
the path!
45
623
3
3
Bert. through the fo rests and rocks
sensed
be hind me
3
3
627
I
3
3
Bert. the
dis tant
cries
of
the
dog,
the re proach
ful stares
of
3
631
3
Bert. the bird:
it
puffed up its fea
thers
635 Bert. and
fi
nal ly
star
ted
to
sing:
5
5
5
.
5
5
46
638
as if airsick
Bird A
lone
in
a
wood,
I
5
5
5
5
641 Bird don’t feel so good. 5
5
5
3
5
3 5
5
5
644 Bird You
took
me
a
way,
5
5
5 3
3
5
5
647 Bird You did
wrong
and you’ll
pay
All
5
5
.
day
and
47
651 Bird all
night
a
void
wrong
5
5 3
3
5
5
654 Bird and
do
right.
5
5
5
5
5
657
5
Bert. I
let
5
it
go:
it
5
rose
up
5
in
to
the
air
5
sim. 5
5
sim.
660 Bert. and
flew
a
5
5 5
.
way.
5
5
5
48
Steady
663
666
3
Bert. I came to a
vil
lage
it was the
670
one
I
had left, years
3
3
Bert. a go:
my
673
pa
rents were dead
3
and
3
no
one
re
mem bered me.
3
Bert. I sold
a
few
stones
and was
mo derate ly pros
pe rous.
3
.
49
677
3
Bert. In
a 3
plea
sant
town
I
3
ren
ted a
house
with a
gar den.
3
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
680
3
3
Bert. The world
did not
seem
as
I
had
i
ma
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
683
3
Bert. gined it.
I
be
gan
to
for
get,
3 3 3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
686 Bert. and
I lived quite con tent.
I
met this good man,
3
3
3 3
.
3
50 689
3
Bert. and here my
tale
is
at
an
end.
an impassioned outburst
Eck. You should have seen
her
3
5
693
3
Eck. then -
her
youth,
3
her
grace,
the
in
con cei
va
ble
charm that
her lone
5
3
3
5
698
3
3
3
3
Bert. It’s grow ing
late!
we must
Eck. - ly
life
had
gi
ven her! 3
3 .
3
3
go
to our
beds!
51 703 Bert.
3
Eck. I
had
no
for tune:
she
brought me pros pe
ri
ty -
our mar
riage has caused us
3
Walther rises, about to retire to bed.
708 Walt. 8
Dear
Eck. no
re grets.
3
714
3
3
Walt. 8
La
dy,
thank
you, 3
3
.
3
52
719
3
3
I
can real ly
Walt. 8
How
well
you
told your tale;
3 3
3
3
724
3
Walt. 8
- ma gine the
bird,
and
3
3
728 Walt. 8
dog,
.
Stroh
mi an.
that
friend
ly
lit
tle
i
53
Scene 4: Strohmian! Walther leaves for bed: Eckbert and Berthe are left in (separate) amazement. Eckbert is worried, Berthe fascinated. 732
= 112 : Pi첫 mosso
3 3
737
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
741 3
3
3
3
3
746
3
3
3
5 3
3
751
3
3
.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
54 756 Bert. Was
it
by chance?
Was
it
by
Eck. Was
I
not
a
fool?
3
3
3
3
761 Bert. chance?
Eck. I 3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
766 Eck. my
self made my
wife
tell
her
sto
ry 3
3 3 3
.
55
771 Bert. Did
he
guess
the
3
3
776 Bert. name? 3
Eck. ‘Stroh
mi an!’
781 Bert. Did
Eck. Won’t he
a
3
.
buse
our trust?
3
he guess
the
56
786 Bert. name?
Did
he know it?
791 Eck. Won’t he 3
3
3
3
tell
our
tale
to
o
thers?
3
797
3
3
Bert. Did he
men tion
it
de
li
berate ly?
3
3
3
3
803 Eck. Won’t he 3
.
3
be
seized
by
greed
57
809
for our
pre cious
stones?
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
815
3
3
3
3
3
3
Bert. and
what
does
this
man
have
to
do
with
my
fate?
Eck. Stroh 3 3
3
820 Eck. mi an!
.
58
825 Eck. Won’t
he
be
seized
by
greed
for
5
our
pre
cious
6
stones?
7
3
829
3
Eck. Won’t
he
con
spire
to
6
steal
them?
5
3
Berthe leaves for bed; Eckbert is left alone with his anxiety.
834 Bert. Stroh 3
3
3
3
mi an! 3
3
3
3
3
3
840
3
3
3
Eck. And 3
3
3
3 .
3
3
when
he
said
"Good night",
59
846
3
3
Eck. was
his
fare well
sin
cere?
3
3
851
3
Eck. Were
his
words
to
me
3
856
3
3
Eck. ho
nest?
Was
3
861
it
na
tu
ral
5
3
Eck. af
.
ter
the
in
ti
mate
words
that were
60
866
5
Eck. said? -
in
ti mate
words! -
3
871
3
Eck. My
sus
pi
3
876
cion
was a
3
roused;
it
3
Eck. will
880
find
con
fir
ma
tion,
3
3
Eck. I
.
re
proach
my
self,
I
re
61
884
3
5
3
5
Eck. proach
888
my self
for
3
my
mis
trust,
but
5
Eck. free
my
self
from it.
The early light of dawn is suddenly apparent; Eckbert sees Walther leaving the house unobtrusively, off on another nature study expedition. 894
3
3
3
3
3
3
900
3
3
907
.
I
can
not
62 3
3
913
After some moments’ thought, Eckbert follows him, picking up his crossbow as he leaves. 918
922
End of Act I
Act II : Prelude Walther’s Death "It was a raw stormy winter day; deep snow lay on the mountains, and bent down the branches of the trees. He roved about; the sweat was standing on his brow. He found no game, and this embittered his ill humour. All at once he saw an object moving in the distance; it was Walther gathering moss from the trunks of trees. Scarcely knowing what he did, he took out an arrow, aimed; Walther looked round and made a threatening gesture, but the arrow was already flying, and Walther fell to the ground." [Ludwig Tieck]
= 60: Melancholy and still
PIANO
3
3 3
4
3
3
3
3 3
3
3 3 3
.
63 6
3
3
3
3
3
3
9
3 3
3
13
17
21 3
.
3
3
3
3
3
64 24
3
3
5
3
3
3
3
27
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
5
3
30
3
33
3
36
3
3
5
6
6 6 5
.
5
6
5
65 5
38
6
5
6
5
6
5
3
3
3
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
40
3
3
3
3
5
5
3
3
3
5
5
5
5
5 5
3
5
5
5
5
42
3
3
3
Bird O 5
5
5
5
5 5
5
5
3
44 Bird Wald
ein
sam keit;
wie liegst
5
.
5
5
3
du weit! 5
5
66 47 Bird O 5
dich
ge
reut
Einst mit 5
3
49
5
Zeit
3
5
3
3
3
der
Bird Ach
einz
’ge
Freud,
Wald ein
sam
keit!
5 3
5
5
Subito molto mosso: 51
3
3
= 80 3
6
Bird O 6
6 6
53 Bird Wald
ein
sam
keit 6
6
.
3
3
67 56 Bird wie liegst
du weit! 6
6
6
6 6
6
59 Bird O dich ge reut
Einst mit der Zeit
3
62
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Bird ach 3
einz
’ge
Freud
ach
einz
’ge
Freud!
3
65 5
67
.
5
6
6
68
( = 104 = Pi첫 mosso) Broadly 69
3
3
3
3
3
5
3
5
3
71
3 3
3
3
3
73
3
75
3
3
3
3
77
3
3
.
3
3
3
3
69
3
79
3
3
81
3
3
83
3
3
85
3
3
3
3
3
3
attacca
Scene 1: Berthe’s Last Words Out of the darkness following Walther’s death, Berthe emerges, anxious and on her deathbed, writing a letter to Eckbert. 87
( =104) accel.
=112
Berthe My 3
3
6
3
est
3 3
3 3
.
dear
3
3 3
3
70 90
3
Berthe hus
band,
I
must
dis
close
to
you.... 3
3
3
3 3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
93 Berthe This has dri ven me out 6
3
3
6
The
blood
has
of
3
my
mind. 6
6
3
96 Berthe left
my
cheeks, 3
3
6
6
3
6
99 Berthe and
my
eyes
burn
with
fe
ver. 3
6
6
6
3
.
71 102 Berthe You
3
know
when
I
re
3 3 6
3
6
6
6
3
105 Berthe - called
my
youth,
no
mat
ter
how
3 3
3 6
3
3
6
108 Berthe I
tried,
3
I could ne
3
3
3
3
3
ver
re mem ber
3
3
the name
3
3
3
111 Berthe of the lit
tle
dog
I
loved,
but
3
6
.
6
3
Wal
3
ther
3
3
72 114 Berthe spoke
to
3
me
of
6
3
3
that friend ly
lit
tle dog.
6
3
“Stroh
3
3
117 Berthe mi an."
Did 3
he
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
120 Berthe guess
the
Did
he know
3
3
3
3
name?
3
3
123 Berthe it?
And
3
.
3
3
3
3
what
3
3
does
3
this
3
3
3
73 In another part of the stage, Eckbert is seen reading the letter Berthe has written to him.
126 Berthe man
have
to
do
with
my
fate? 3
3
3
Eck. Some
3
times
I
strug
gle
3
3
3
3
3
3
129
3
3
Berthe Some
times
I
strug
gle
with
my
self,
3
3
Eck. my 3
3
6
3
6
3
3
3
3 3
132 Berthe as 3
if
I
was
on
ly
i
ma
gin
3
Eck. self, 3
6
.
3
3
3
ing
it;
74 135 Berthe but
6
it
3
is
cer tain, all
too
6
3
3
cer
tain.
6
3
6
138 Berthe When
a
stran
3
3
3
3
Eck. A
stran
ger
knew
my
tale.
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
142 Berthe - ger
knew
my
tale,
ter
ror
seized
3
Eck. my
tale
3 3
3 3 3
3
3 .
3
3
3
3
75
145 Berthe me -
ter ror,
ter ror,
6
ter ror
seized
me.
6 5
3 3
148 Berthe Eck
bert,
what
do
you think?
5 3
6
3
3
5
6
3
151 Berthe What 5
5
3
do 5
3
you 5
3
think? 3
5
5
3
3
3
154
3
Eck. Ter
ror
seized
me.
3
3 5
6
3 .
5
3 3
3
76 156
3
3
3
3
Eck. What
do
you
think?
What 3
3 3
3
3
158
3
3
3
Eck. do
you
think?
3
3
160
3 3
3
3
162
3
3
164
.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
77
Scene 2 : Accusation Eckbert is alone and unnoticed amidst an urban scene 166 (sempre
=112) Molto animato sung by The Bird
S A sung by Berthe Offst. Chor.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
sung by Walther T 8
169 S A Chor. T 8
173
.
78 176 S A Ah. Chor. T 8
Ah.
179 3
S A Ah.
Chor.
3
T 8
Ah.
3
182 3 3
3 3
.
3
79 186 S A Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Chor.
T 8
3
3
191
3
Eck. I
saw
my
3
196
3
3
friend 3
ly
3
ing
3
3
3
3
3
3
Eck. in
the 3
wood,
I
saw
my
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
3 3
3
3
200
3
3
3
3
3
Eck. friend
ly
ing
in
the
wood, 3
3
3 3
3 3
3
.
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
80 204
3
3
Eck. and
then
a
bird
flew o
ver and
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
208
3
Eck. said: Chor.
"Your friend
S A Ah. 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
213 Eck. died 3
in
the
3
3
3
wood." 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
217 3
Eck. Dead
in
the
win try
3
3
3
3
3
3
wood! 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3 .
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
81 3
221 3
Eck. Dead in
the
lone
ly,
win try wood!
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
225 Eck. said
the
bird, 3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
229 Chor.
S A Ah. 3
3
3
3
232 Chor.
S A Ah.
.
82 235 Chor.
S A Ah.
Ah.
3
238
Hugo emerges from the throng, and tries to comfort Eckbert
Poco meno mosso ( = 104)
241 Hugo 8
Friend, 3
Chor.
S A Ah.
3
3 3
5 5
3
245
3
3
3
Hugo 8
my
name
is
3
5
5 .
go:
5
5
3
Hu
3
3
3
83 249 Hugo 8
Be
calm,
at
ease.
3
253
3
3
3
3
3
Hugo 8
"Your friend
died
in
the
wood.�
3
Eck. In
3
3
3
3
the
3
3
3
3
wood...
3
3
3
257
3
Hugo 8
Dead
in
the
win try
wood. 3
Eck. In
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
the 3
3
win
try wood.
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3 .
3
3
84 261
3
3
Hugo 8
Dead in
the
lone
ly,
win try
wood, 3
3
Eck. In 3
the
win
try 3
3
3
3
3
wood,
3
3
3 3
3 3
3
3
3 3
poco rit.
Poco meno mosso ( = 104)
265
3
3 3
3 3
3
270
3
3
3
3
3
3
Hugo 8
Your
tale
moved
me,
5
3
3
5
274
3
3
Hugo 8
feel
no
shame.
3
3
Eck. Kind 5
5
ger,
3
3 5
3
5
5
.
stran
5
85 278
3
3
3
Eck. you
have
saved
me
5
I 5
5
5
3
3
282
3
5
5
3
3
Hugo 8
3
3
Be
still. 3
3
Eck. had
des
paired.
3
3
286
You
were
so
3
3
3
3
Eck. pa
tient,
3
dear
est
friend!
3
Suddenly the scene freezes as Eckbert sees Hugo in a new, threatening, light. 290 Tempo primo ( = 112) S A Chor.
Mur
der
er!
Mur
der
er!
T 8
.
86 295 Eck. I thought I saw a
ma
3
li cious smile
3
his face.
3
3
3
cross
3
3
3
a
3
3 3
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
299 Eck. He was
su
spi cious
of
my
in
ti mate re
3
3
3
3 3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
304 Eck. ve
la
3
tion.
3
3 3
3
3
309 Eck. 3
He
spoke
to
my
foes,
but
not
to me.
S A Cri mi nal!
Chor.
3
T 8
Cri mi nal! 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
.
3 3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3 3
87 313 Eck. They asked him
ques tions
in
a
sin
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
316 Eck. gu
lar
way.
3 3
3
3
3
3
321 Eck. I looked at
Hu
go
and saw Wal
ther’s
face.
S A Mur
der er!
Mur
der er!
Chor.
T 8
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
3
88 325 Eck. All S A Dead!
Chor. T 8
Dead!
329 Eck. his
fa
mi
liar
ex
pres
sions.
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Eckbert leaves, hurriedly. Hugo, amidst the city scene, is left behind. 332
337
.
3 3
3
3
3
3
3 3
89
Scene 3: Eckbert, fugitive Eckbert finds himself in the countryside, in the landscape described by Berthe in her Ballad. 342
= 84 : Light, nervous 6
345
6
6
6
6
6
348
3
Eck. She came this way:
she was
6 3
351 Eck. here. 6 6
6 6 3
3
354
6 6 3
3
3
.
3
90 356
3
Eck. Down the path, 6
6
6
6
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
359
3
3
Eck. through
the fo
6
6
rests
and
rocks,
6
6
9:8
9:8
3 3
3
3
362
3
Eck. she
sensed
be
hind
her 3
3
3
3
3
3 3
5
3
5 5
365
3
3 3
.
3
3 3
3
3
3 5
3
3 5
91 368
3
Eck. The
dis
tant cries
of
3
3
3 3
3
the
dog,
the
re proach
ful
3
371
5
5
Eck. the
bird.
3
3 3
8ba
A peasant passes by. 374
377
380
.
Relaxed, amiable
stares
of
92 383 Eck. That man
who passed,
that man
who passed
by,
386
389 Eck. I
could
be lieve,
I
could
be lieve
it.
392 Eck. I
.
could
be
lieve
it
was
none
93 3
395
3
Eck. o
398
ther than
Wal
ther:
3
3
Eck. it
was
Wal
ther!
3
401
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
404
3
3
3
3
3
3
rit.
407
3
3 3
.
94
= 76 : Poco meno mosso
410
,
413
,
,
Eckbert approaches the area near the Old Woman’s house. 416
,
3
418
3
3
3
3
3 3
Eck. The
trees
whis
per
in
3
420
3
3
Eck. the
in
ter
vals
,
.
The
,
mar
95 The Bird flies overhead. 423
= 72 : Pochissimo meno mosso
3
3
3
Bird Ah. 3
3
3
Eck. vel lous,
min
gled with the com mon place! 3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
426
3
3
3
3
3
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
3
3 3
3
3
3
3
Ah. 3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
429
3
3
Bird Ah.
A
lone
in a
3
5
5
5
at
3
3
3
3
3 .
wood,
3
3
96 433
3
3
3
Bird last
it’s
good. 3
Eck. The mar 3
vel lous
bird!
3 3
3
5
3
5
3
3
3
436
3
3
3
3
3
3
Bird Now
no
thing’s wrong,
you’ll
hear
my
song.
Eck. 5
3
3
3
5 3
3
3
5
Broadening slightly
439 Bird Ah. 3
In
3
Eck. Now hear 3
the song!
3
3
3 3
.
3
97 443
3
3
3
3
3
Bird truth’s clear, blind
ing
light -
Wald,
Wald 3
3
3
5 3 3
5
3
3
447
3
3
3
3
Bird ein
sam
3 3
Wald
ein
sam
3 3
3
5 3
3
Scene 4: At the End 452
3
3
3
3
3
3
Bird keit. like a folk song.
Ah.
3
Ah.
3
Old W. 8
Kommst
du
her,
mein’ schö
ner
Vo
gel? 5
5
5
5 3
.
3
3
3
98 455 3
3
Bird 3
3
Ah.
3
Old W. 8
Komm
3
zu r端ck,
du
klei
ner
Vo
gel!
Eck. The
path ends. 5
3
3
5
5
5
3
458 Bird Ah. 3
3
Old W. 8
Komm
zu
r端ck,
du
3
Eck. No thought,
no
461
3
me mo ry
3
5
3
3
3
5
3
Bird Ah.
Ah.
3
Ah.
3
Old W. 8
klei
ner
Vo
gel! 6
5 3
3
3
3
.
3
3
3
3
3
99 464
Slightly broader
Bird
suddenly confronting Eckbert 3
3
3
Old W. 8
Are you bring ing me my bird,
my
pre
5
5
5
468
cious
5
5
3
Old W. 8
jew
els? 3
3
Eck. Why
do you speak
to
me?
3
5
5 5
The Old Woman reveals herself in the guises of Walther and then Hugo 472
3
3
3
Old W. 8
Eck bert,
3
.
I
was
Wal ther;
I was
Hu
go.
3
100 477
3
3
Eck. In
what
so
li
tude
have I
lived
my
life! 3
3
urgently
482
3
Eck. Tell
3
of
485 Old W. She
was
your
sis
ter.
5
5
5
quietly and reflectively 489
3
Eck. Why
have
I
al ways
i
ma gined this dread
3
.
the
5 5
8
Ber
3
3
3
me
ful
thing?
101 492
= 66 : Broadly
Old W. 8
3
3
You heard your fa
in agony
ther
say
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
495
3
3
3
3
Old W. 8
it
when you 3
3
were
3
3
a
child.
3
3 6
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah. 3
3
3 6
3
6
3
3
3
3
3
497
3
3
Old W. 8
She was the daugh 3
3
3
ter
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
.
3
3
3
of
a
knight,
102 499
3
Old W. 8
your
3
fa
ther’s
daugh
ter.
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
3
501
3
3
3
3
3
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
3
Ah.
3
3
3
503 3
Old W. 8
She 3
was
not
your
3
Eck. Ah.
3 3
3
.
mo
ther’s
child.
103 505
3
3
Old W. 8
Your
pa
rents
would
not
keep
her.
3 3
Eck. Ah.
3
3
3
3
507
3
3
3
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
3
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
509
3
3
3
Old W. 8
She
was
3
Eck.
3
.
raised
by a
shep
Ah.
3
3
3
Ah.
herd.
104 511
3
3
Bird Wald
ein
sam
keit,
my tale is
fi
nished. 3
3
3
Old W. 8
Her tri als and tri
bu
3 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
514 3
3
3
Old W. 8
la
tions
were
al
most at
an
end. 3 3
Eck. Ah.
3 3
3
3 3
516
3
Bird Eck
bert
lay
on
3
the
ground... 3
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
3 3
.
3
Ah.
105 518
3
Old W. 8
Why,
3
why
did
she
leave
me?
Eck. Ah.
3
Ah.
3
3 3
3
3
520 Bird 3
... in
3
sane
Old W. 8
For
shame,
that
she 3
a
ban
doned
me.
3
3
Eck. Ah.
3
Ah.
3 3
3
3
3
3 3
3
522 3
Bird and
dy
ing...
3
3
3
Old W. 8
Her 3
3
3
Eck. 3
Ah.
Ah. 3 3
3
3 .
3
3
tri
als
and
tri
bu
106 524 3
3
3
Old W. 8
la
tions
were 3
al
most at
an
end. 3
3
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah. 3
3
3
3
3
3
3 3
3
3
526 3
3
Bird Numbed
and
be
wil
dered,
3
he
3
heard... 3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3
3 3
3
3
3
528 Bird 3
The
Old W. 8
Why did she leave
me?
3
Eck. Ah. 3
3
.
Ah.
Ah.
107 531 3
3
Bird old
wo man speak
ing,
and...
3
3
3
Old W. 8
in
your youth,
you
heard
it
said...
3
3
Eck. Ah.
3
3 3
3 3 3
534
3
Bird ...the
lit
tle dog bark
ing.
3
3
Old W. 8
in
3
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah.
3
3 3
.
3
3
your
youth,
you
108 536 3
Bird and
3
the
bird
Old W. 8
heard
it
3
said...
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
Ah. 3
3
538
3
The bird closes off the scene and flies away, chased by the dog
3
Bird re
peat
ing her song:
3
3
Eck. Ah.
Ah.
3
3
3
540 Eck. Ah. 9
9
9
9
9
9
542
9
9
9
9
9
9
End of Opera .