O du, mein holder Abendstern
From Tannhäuser
Richard Wagner
Arranged by Richard Repp music@richardrepp.com http://music.richardrepp.com
I do not see a lot of opera guitar tabs around, so I guess that is something I can add.
[Intro]
Gm F Eb Bb Eb D D7
[Recitative-freely without steady tempo]
Gm G Cm D Gm
Wie Todesahnung, Dämm'rung deckt die Lande,
G Cm D G Bb
umhüllt das Tal mit schwärzlichem Gewande;
Dm D D7 Gm Gm6
der Seele, die nach jenen Höh'n verlangt,
Dm A Dm C
vor ihrem Flug durch Nacht und Grausen bangt!
Bb (Tremolo picking)
Da scheinest du, o lieblichster der Sterne,
Cm
dein sanftes Licht entsendest du der Ferne,
F Bb
die nächt'ge Dämmrung teilt dein lieber Strahl,
Dm D A D (End tremolo)
und freundlich zeigst du den Weg aus dem Tal.
A Bm D G
[Aria-steady tempo in 3/4]
G G5 Gadd#11 Am Aadd9 Bb D Eb
O du, mein holder A - bendstern,
Em Emadd2 Em G D D7/C G
wohl grüsst' ich immer dich so gern;
G G5 Gadd#11 Am Aadd9 Bb D Eb
vom Herzen, das sie nie verriet,
Em Emadd2 Em G Gadd#4 G Bm/D D Em
grüsse sie, wenn sie vorbei dir zieht,
Em C E7 Am Aadd9 Fadd#11 F
wenn sie entschwebt dem Tal der Er - den,
C Am Bm G Esus Em
ein sel'ger Engel dort zu werden!
C Cadd#4 B7 Ab Ab7 C# C#m
wenn sie entschwebt dem Tal der Erden,
A6 Bbo7 E Esus Esus#4 G Bm/D D G
ein sel'ger En-gel dort zu wer - den!
[Outro] Repeat the chords from the first 4 lines of the Aria, but end in G instead of Em. If you feel adventurous, fill the melody line:
e|----------------------------------
B|------3--2-1-----0----------------
G|--0----------------3-----2-------
D|---------------------------5------
A|----------------------------------
E|----------------------------------
e|-----------------------------------
B|-----------0-----------------------
G|--0------0-------0-----------------
D|------4------------0---------------
A|-------------------------3-2-------
E|-----------------------------------
e|----------------------------------
B|------3--2-1-----0----------------
G|--0----------------3-----2--------
D|---------------------------5------
A|----------------------------------
E|----------------------------------
e|-----------------------------------
B|-----------------------------------
G|--0-----------------4----2-0-------
D|------4--2-0------0----------------
A|---------------4-------------------
E|-----------------------------------
Most of the add#11s and such are just outlining the melody. Feel free to skip them if they are tripping you up. Here are the weird chords I use:
Gm6
e|-----3---
B|-----3---
G|-----3---
D|----2----
A|--x------
E|-----3---
G5
e|--x------
B|-----3---
G|--0------
D|--0------
A|----2----
E|-----3---
Gadd#11
e|--x------
B|----2----
G|--0------
D|--0------
A|----2----
E|-----3---
Aadd9
e|--0----
B|--0----
G|----2--
D|----2--
A|--0----
E|--0----
Emadd2
e|--0------
B|--0------
G|--0------
D|------4--
A|----2----
E|--0------
D7/C
e|---x-----
B|-----3---
G|----2----
D|--0------
A|-----3---
E|--x------
Gadd#4 (Spelled the same as Gadd#11 but voiced differently)
e|--x------
B|--0------
G|--0------
D|--0------
A|------4--
E|-----3---
Bm/D
e|----2----
B|-----3---
G|------4--
D|--0------
A|--x------
E|--x------
Fadd#11
e|--x------
B|--0------
G|----2----
D|-----3---
A|-----3---
E|---1—----
Esus
e|--0-----
B|--0-----
G|-----3--
D|-----3--
A|-----3--
E|--0-----
Cadd#4
e|--0------
B|---1-----
G|--0------
D|------4--
A|----2----
E|--x------
A6
e|--0------
B|----2----
G|----2----
D|------4--
A|--0------
E|--x------
Bbo7
e|--0------
B|----2----
G|--0------
D|----2----
A|---1-----
E|--x------
Esus#4
e|--0------
B|--0------
G|------4--
D|-----3---
A|-----3---
E|--0—-----
The chords here may not be exactly what is in the original Wagner score. I arranged it for guitar by ear and took some liberties.
This is one of the most beautiful songs I know of I any style. The song is written for opera, but can work well in a pop setting if done right. I personally refuse to do it in English, but there are some transcriptions out there. I hope you enjoy.