MasterofMusicinVocalPerformanceandPedagogy,DegreeRecital
March25,2023
8:00pm
RebeccaClarke(1886-1979)
Growingupinamusicalfamily,RebeccaClarkelivedmostofherlifebetweenEngland andtheUnitedStates.ShewasenrolledattheRoyalAcademyofMusicin1908whereshe studiedviola.In1908,shebecamethefirstfemalestudenttoattendtheRoyalConservatoryof Musicwhereshestudiedcomposition.Afterherfatherevictedherfromherfamilyhome,Clarke managedtomakealivingperformingtheviolaandbecameknownforherprowessonthe instrument.Duringherperformancecareer,shetraveledtheglobeandpublishedherViola Sonataof1919aswellasafewcompositionswhichwerereceivedwithgreatacclaimand grantedherrecognitionasaskilledcomposer Thoughhercompositionaloutputwasonlyaround eightypieces,muchofhermusicstillremainsunpublishedandbelongstoherestate.Clarke primarilyproducedsmallerchamberworksandsongsforvoiceandpianoandherstylecanbest bedescribedasvirtuosicwithelementsofimpressionismandexpressionismscattered throughout.ShestillremainsoneofthemostinfluentialBritishcomposerstothisday.
The Seal Man isanadaptationoftheshortstorybythesamenamefromJohnMasefield’s collectionofshortstoriesentitled A Mainsail Haul Thestoryfollowsayounggirlassheruns awaywithherloverintotheseaanddrowns,notknowingherloverisaselkie,amythological creaturewithamagicalpeltwhocantakeontheformofahumanoraseal. Thoughtheending oftheMasefieldstoryshowsthesealmanhassomeremorseforhisactions,Clarkedecidedto omitthiselementofthestorytoaddtothedramaofthepiece.Clarke’sadaptationofthestory featuresalargelyimpressionisticpianorepresentingthemoonlightshimmeringontheocean wavesandsettingthesceneforthegruesometalewhilethevoiceemphaticallyrecitesthe Masefieldtext.
TheSealMan
Andhecamebyhercabintothewestoftheroad,calling.
Therewasastronglovecameupinheratthat, andsheputdownhersewingonthetable,and"Mother,"shesays, "There'snolock,andnokey,andnobolt,andnodoor. There'snoiron,nornostone,noranythingatall willkeepmethisnightfromthemanIlove."
Andshewentoutintothemoonlighttohim, therebythebushwheretheflow'rsispretty,beyondtheriver.
Andhesaystoher:"Youareallofthebeautyoftheworld, willyoucomewhereIgo,overthewavesofthesea?" Andshesaystohim:"Mytreasureandmystrength,"shesays, "Iwouldfollowyouonthefrozenhills,myfeetbleeding."
Thentheywentdownintotheseatogether, andthemoonmadeatrackonthesea,andtheywalkeddownit; itwaslikeaflamebeforethem.Therewasnofearatallonher; onlyagreatloveliketheloveoftheOldOnes, thatwasstrongerthanthetouchofthefool.
Shehadalittlewhitethroat,andlittlecheekslikeflowers, andshewentdownintotheseawithherman, whowasn'tamanatall. Shewasdrowned,ofcourse. It'slikeheneverthoughtthatshewouldn'tbearthesealikehimself. Shewasdrowned,drowned.
TextbyJohnMasefield,andadaptedbyRebeccaClarke AleksandrBorodin(1833-1887)
BorninSaintPetersburg,Russia,AleksandrBorodinwastheillegitimatesonofPrince LukaStepanovichGedianovandoneofhismistresses.Aspartofthecustomatthetime,Borodin wasregisteredasthesonofoneofPrinceLuka’sserfs.Despitethesocialpoliticsprohibiting Borodinfromlivingwithhisfather,PrinceLukaensuredthatBorodinandhismotherlived comfortably.Duringhisearlylife,Borodingravitatedtowardsmusic,whichhismotherand nursefosteredthroughfluteandpianolessonsandfrequenttripstoseemusicalperformances.As Borodingrew,hisinterestsbecamedividedbetweenmusicandscience,thoughheultimately pursuedchemistryandanatomyforhiscareer.Duringhiscareerasaphysicianandchemist, Borodinwouldcomposeinhisfreetime,composingseveralorchestralandchamberworks,as wellaspiecesforpianoandvoice.Borodin’smusicalstylereflectedthatofGermanRomantic composerssuchasMendelssohnandmanyofhisearliestcompositionsweresmallerchamber worksmeantforhisinner-circlewhichincludedseveralleadingRussiancomposersatthetime suchasBalakriev,Cui,Mussorgsky,andRimsky-Korsokov.Duetohisbusylifeasaresearching chemist,manyofBorodin’scompositionsremainedincompleteandunpublishedatthetimeof hisdeathin1887.Itwasn’tuntilRimsky-Korsokovcompletedandpublishedtheworks posthumously,suchastheopera Prince Igor, thathisworksbecamemorewellknown.
OfthepiecesBorodinwrote,thelargestnumberofworkswereforvoiceandpianoand weremeanttobesungassalonpieces.ThoughBorodindidusethetextsofvariouspoetswhen composinghissongs,heprovidedhisownlyricsforthesongs The Sea Princess and The Sleeping Princess. The Sea Princess isBorodin’stextsettingoftheLoreleilegend.Ayoung maidenwhoisbetrayedbyherloverand,inhergrief,throwsherselfintotheRhineRiverwhere shethenbecomesasirenwholuresanyonewhodarestogettooclosetotheirdoom.Therocking motioninthepianomimicsthesoundoftheripplingwaveswhilethevoiceofthesirenlullsthe listenerintocomplacency. The Sleeping Princess,similarly,isBorodin’stakeontheclassic fairytaleoftheSleepingBeauty.Unlikethehappyendingmostarefamiliarwithwherethe princessisawokenfromhersleepbyahandsomeprince,Borodin’sinterpretationleavesthe endingambiguousanduncertain.Thisisthenreflectedinthemusicwiththeeverpresent unresolvingmajorseconds,syncopatedrhythms,andwhole-tonescale.
TheSeaPrincess
Pridikomnyenochnoyporoy, oputnikmolody!
Zdes'podvodoy
iprokhlada,ipokoy.
Tyzdes'otdokhnyosh', tysladkozasnyosh', kachayas',nazybkikhvodakh, gde,nyegipolna, lish'dryemlyetvolna
fpustynnykhbyeryegakh.
Pozybimorskoy
samazatoboy
tsarevnamorskayaplyvyot!
Onamanit,onapoyot, ksyebetyebyazovyot...
TextbyAleksandrBorodinOhcometomeatnight, Myyouthfultraveller! Herebeneaththewaves
It’scoolandcalm. Hereyouwillfindrest
Asyoufallfastasleep, Rockedbytheripplingwaters, Where,fullofyearning, Thewavesbutdoze Ondesolatebanks. Acrosstheswellingsea, Sailinginyourwake, Theseaprincesswillcome! Shelures,shesings, Shebeckonsyoutojoinher
EnglishTranslationbyPhilipRossBullock
SpyashchayaKnyazhnaSpit,spitvlyesuglukhom, spitknyazhnavolshebny'msnom,
TheSleepingPrincess
Inaforestdeeptheresleeps, Aprincessinanenchantedsleep,
MorskayaTsaryevnaspitpodkrovomtyomnoynochi, sonskovalyeykrepkoochi. Spit,spit.
Votilyesglukhoyochnulsya, Zdikimsmyekhomvdrukprosnulsya vyed'milyeshikhshumnyroy ipromchalsyanadknyazhoj.
Lish'knyazhnavlyesuglukhom spitfsyotyemzhemyortvy'msnom. Spit,spit.
Sluxproshol,shtovlyesdryemuchi bogaty'rpridyotmoguchi, chary'siloysokrushit, sonvolshebnypobedit iknyazhnuosvobodit,osvobodit.
Noprokhodyatdnizadnyami, gody'idutzagodami...
Nidushizhivoykrugom, fsyoob'yatomyortvy'msnom.
Takknyazhnavlyesuglukhom tikhospitglubokimsnom; sonskovalyeykryepkoochi spitonaidni,inochi. Spit,spit.
Iniktonyeznayet,skorol' chasudaritprobuzhdyen'ya.
TextbyAleksandrBorodin
Shesleepsbeneaththenightsodark, Sleephasfirmlysealedhereyes. Shesleeps,shesleeps.
Allatoncetheforeststirs, Suddenlythereawakeswithlaughterwild Araucoushordeofspritesandwitches, Swarmingovertheprincess.
Buttheprincessintheforestdeep Sleepsoninthesamedeathlysleep. Shesleeps,shesleeps.
Wordspreadsthatintothisvirginforest There’llcomeapowerfulknight, Whowithhismightwillbreakthespell Andovercomethecharmsofsleep Andsettheprincessfreeagain.
Butdaybydaygoesby, Andyearbyyear…
There’snotalivingsoularound, Everythingissunkindeathlysleep.
Andsotheprincessintheforestdeep Quietlysleepshersleepsodeep; Sleephasfirmlysealedhereyes, Onshesleeps,bothdayandnight. Shesleeps,shesleeps.
Andnooneknowshowsoon
Thehourofherawakeningwillcome
EnglishTranslationbyPhilipRossBullockGustavMahler(1860-1911)
BorninBohemiatoaJewishfamily,GustavMahlerwasaprominentAustrianconductor andcomposerofthelate19thandearly20thcentury.Apianoprodigyfromayoungage,he
studiedconducting,andcompositionattheViennaConservatory.Followinghiseducation, MahlerconductedacrosscentralEuropeandtheUnitedStatesleadingcompaniessuchasthe RoyalHungarianOpera,theViennaPhilharmonic,andtheMetropolitanOpera.Despitehis manycompositions,Mahlerwasprimarilyknownforhisconductingprowessduringhislife.It wasn’tuntiltheendofWorldWarIIwhenhismusicwasremovedfromthelistofbanned composersandcompositionsthathisworkssawaresurgenceinperformancevenuesglobally. Mahler’searliermusicalstyleispartofthelateromanticperiod,makinghimoneofthelastofa longlineofGermanRomanticcomposers.Thismusicalstyleincludesemotionallydriven orchestrationsandfolkinfluences,aswellasthemesofnature.Mahler’slatercompositions begantointroducemoderniststyleswithhismultiple“voiced”symphoniesandhis experimentationwithoffstageensembles.ThoughMahlerismostfamouslyknownforhis symphoniessuchashisSymphonyno.2 The Resurrection Symphony,andhisSymphonyno.8 Symphony of a Thousand,hewasalsoanotoriouscomposerofGerman lieder
Mahlercomposedseveralbooksof lieder throughouthislifeincluding,butnotlimitedto, Kindertotenlieder, Rückert Lieder, and Des Knaben Wunderhorn.Thoughmanyofhis lieder utilizethetextofmanyfamouspoets,Mahlerwasknowntobehisownlyricisttohis compositionsanumberoftimes.Suchisthecasewithhiscomposition“HansundGrete”from hissongcycle Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit.Thischarmingsongemploysthesounds andmusicalidiomsofclassicAustrianfolktuneswhiletellingthestoryofayoungboyandgirl meetingeachotherduringaspringfestival.Theswingofthewaltzrhythmsaccompaniedbythe playfulnessbetweenthevoiceandpianojoinsinthemerrimentasthetwochildrencome togetherinadance.
OneofMahler’smostwellknownsongsettingsishis Des Knaben Wunderhorn or“The Boy’sMagicHorn”. Des Knaben Wunderhorn isacollectionofGermanfolkpoemsbyGerman RomanticpoetsAchimvonArnimandClemensBrentanowhichMahlersetforvoiceand orchestrathenlaterarrangedforvoiceandpiano.AsiscommonlyfoundinGermanstories,the talesfoundinthiscollectionofpoemsrangeanywherefromthecomicalandlightheartedtothe moresinisterandbleak.Amongthemorejovialpiecesfromthiscollectionis“LobdesHohen Verstandes”(InPraiseofHighIntellect)whichtellsthestoryoftwobirds,aCuckooanda Nightingale,astheycompetetoseewhosingsthebettersongwiththeirfriend,theDonkey,as judge.TheaccompanimentaidsthestorywithitstextpaintingoftheCuckoo’scallalongwith thebrayoftheDonkey.Theextensiverangeofthevocallineservesthenarrativeasthesinger oscillatesbetweensingingasthebirds,thenarrator,andthedonkey.Inasimilarstyleasthetwo aforementioned lieder,“Werhatdiesliedleinerdacht?”(Whothoughtofthislittlesong?)is anothersprightlytunewhichtakesinspirationfromGermanfolksongs,butismorerusticinits approach.Thepastoralsettingofthesongdepictsayoungadmirerastheysingaboutthebeauty oftheinnkeeper’sdaughter Thesimplicityofthevocallineisinterruptedtwicebymelismatic passagesmeanttorepresenttheyodelingwhichwouldlikelybefoundinthemountainswhere themaincharactersofthispiecewouldlive.“WodieschönenTrompetenblasen”(Wherethe
beautifultrumpetsblow)isoneofthemoresomberpiecesfromthiscollection.Itrecountsthe meetingofayoungmanwhocomestobidfarewelltohisbelovedashehasbeencalledtowar. Themotifofthetrumpetandthedrumswithinthepianoisinterspersedthroughoutthepiece, constantlyinterruptingtheromanticandmelodicpassagesofthetwolovers.Thepieceendsona noteofforebodingastheyoungmanstatesthegreenfieldsheisleavingforwilllikelybehis finalrestingplace.
HansundGrethe
Ringel,ringelReih’n!
Werfröhlichist,derschlingesichein!
WerSorgenhat,derlass’siedaheim!
WereinliebesLiebchenküßt, Wieglücklichderist!
Ei,Hänsel,duhastjakein’s!
Sosuchedirein’s!
EinliebesLiebchen,dasistwasFein’s. Juchhe!
Ringel,ringelReih’n!
Ei,Gretchen,wasstehstdennsoallein?
GuckstdochhinüberzumHänselein!?
UndistdochderMaisogrün?
UnddieLüfte,siezieh’n!
Ei,sehtdochdendummenHans!
WieerrennetzumTanz!
ErsuchteeinLiebchen,Juchhe!
Erfand’s!Juchhe!
Ringel,ringelReih’n!
TextbyGustavMahler
HanselandGretel
Ring-a-ring,danceinaring!
Whoever’shappy,lethimjoinin!
Whoeverhastroubles,lethimleavethembehind!
Whoeverkissesasweetheart, Howluckyheis!
WhyHans,youhaven’tgotone!
Solookforone!
Alovingsweetheartiswonderful. Hurrah!
Ring-a-ring,danceinaring!
ButGrete,whyareyouallalone?
Yetyou’reglancingatHansoverthere!?
AndthemonthofMayissogreen!
Andthebreezesareblowing!
OhjustlookatfoolishHans!
Howherushestothedance!
Hewaslookingforasweetheart,sing-ho!
Hehasfoundone!Sing-hey!
Ring-a-ring,danceinaring!
EnglishTranslationbyRichardStokes
LobdeshohenVerstandes
EinstmalsineinemtiefenTal KukukundNachtigall
InPraiseofHighIntellect
Onceuponatimeinadeepvalley
Thecuckooandthenightingale
TäteneinWettanschlagen:
ZusingenumdasMeisterstück: „GewinnesKunst,gewinnesGlück, Danksollerdavontragen.“
DerKukuksprach:Sodirsgefällt, HabichdenRichterwählt, UndtätgleichdenEselernennen. DennweilerhatzweiOhrengroß, Sokannerhörendestobos, Undwasrechtist,kennen.
SieflogenvordenRichterbald. WiedemdieSachewarderzählt, Schufer,siesolltensingen.
DieNachtigallsanglieblichaus, DerEselsprach,dumachstmir'skraus. Dumachstmir’skraus!Ija!Ija! IchkannsinKopfnichtbringen.
DerKukukdrauffingangeschwind SeinSangdurchTerzundQuartundQuint. DemEselgfiels,ersprachnur:Wart! DeinUrteilwillichsprechen.
WohlsungenhastduNachtigall, AberKukuksingstgutChoral, UndhältstdenTaktfeininnen; Dassprechichnachmein’hohnVerstand, UndkostesgleicheinganzesLand, Solaßich'sdichgewinnen.
Kukuk,Kukuk,Ija!
TextbyAnonymous
Betweenthemmadeawager: Whoeversangthefinersong, Whoeverwonbyskillorluck, Shouldcarryofftheprize.
Thecuckoosaid:Ihave,sopleaseyou, Alreadychosenthejudge. Andnamedthedonkeystraightaway, Becausewithhistwolargeears He’llhearmuchclearerwhatisbad, Andalsoknowwhat’sgood.
Sosoontheyflewbeforethejudge, Whenhewastoldhowmattersstood, Hecommandedthemtosing.
Thenightingalesandbeautifully, Thedonkeysaid,you’reconfusingme. You’reconfusingme.Hee-haw!Hee-haw! Ijustcan’tunderstandit.
Whereatthecuckooquicklysang Hissongthroughthirdsandfourthsandfifths. Thedonkeylikedit,merelysaid:wait, WaitwhileIgivemyverdict.
Nightingale,yousangwell, Butyou,cuckoo,singafinehymn Andkeepthestrictestmeasure; Myhighintellectpronouncesthis, Andthoughitcostawholecountry, Ideclareyounowthewinner.
Cuckoo,cuckoo,hee-haw!
EnglishTranslationsbyRichardStokes
Werhatdieliedleinerdacht?
Whothoughtupthislittlesong?
DortobenambergindemhohenHaus, Daguckteinfein'slieb'sMädelheraus, Esistnichtdortdaheime, EsistdesWirtsseinTöchterlein, EswohntaufgrünerHeide.
UndwerdasMädelhabenwill, MußtausendTalerfinden
Undmußsichauchverschwören, NiemehrzuWeinzugehen, DesVatersGutverzehren.
"MeinHerzeistwund, kommSchätzelmach'sgesund! DeinschwarzbrauneÄuglein, Diehabenmichvertwundt!
DeinrosigerMund
MachtHerzengesund. MachtJugendverständig, MachtTotelebendig, MachtKrankegesund."
WerhatdenndasschöneLiedleinerdacht? Eshaben'sdreiGänsübersWassergebracht, Zweigraueundeineweiße; UndwerdasLiedleinnichtsingenkann, Demwollensieespfeifen.Ja!
TextbyAnonymous
Upthere,onthemountaininahigh-uphouse, alovely,darlinggirllooksoutofthewindow Shedoesnotlivethere: sheisthedaughteroftheinnkeeper, andshelivesonthegreenmeadow.
Andhewhowouldhaveher wouldfindathousandthalers, buthewouldhavetoswear nevertohavewineagain tohaveherfather'sproperty.
"Myheartissore! Come,mytreasure,makeitwellagain! Yourdarkbrowneyes havewoundedme. Yourrosymouth makesheartshealthy. Itmakesyouthwise, bringsthedeadtolife, giveshealthtotheill."
Whohasthoughtupthisprettylittlesongthen? Itwasbroughtoverthewaterbythreegeesetwogreyandonewhiteandifyoucannotsingthelittlesong, theywillwhistleitforyou!Yes!
EnglishtranslationbyEmilyEzust
WodieschönenTrompetenblasen
Weristdenndraußenundwerklopfetan, Dermichsoleise,soleiseweckenkann?
DasistderHerzallerliebstedein, Stehaufundlaßmichzudirein!
Wheretheshiningtrumpetssound
Whostandsoutsideandknocksatmydoor, Wakingmesogently?
Itisyourowntruedearestlove, Arise,andletmein.
Wassollichhiernunlängerstehn?
IchsehdieMorgenrötaufgehn, DieMorgenröt,zweihelleStern, BeimeinemSchatz,dawärichgern, beimeinerHerzallerliebsten.
DasMädchenstandaufundließihnein; Sieheißtihnauchwilkommensein.
Willkommen,lieberKnabemein, Solanghastdugestanden!
SiereichtihmauchdieschneeweißeHand. VonfernesangdieNachtigall DasMädchenfingzuweinenan.
Achweinenicht,duLiebstemein, AufsJahrsollstdumeineigensein. MeinEigensollstduwerdengewiß, Wie'skeinesonstaufErdenist.
OLiebaufgrünerErden.
IchziehinKriegaufgrünerHeid, DiegrüneHeide,dieistsoweit. AllwodortdieschönenTrompetenblasen, DaistmeinHaus,vongrünemRasen.
TextbyAnonymous
Whyleavemelongerwaitinghere?
Iseerosydawnappear, Therosydawnandtwobrightstars. Ilongtobebesidemylove, Besidemydearestlove.
Thegirlaroseandlethimin, Shebidshimwelcometoo.
Owelcome,dearestloveofmine, Toolonghaveyoubeenwaiting. Shegivestohimhersnow-whitehand, Fromfaroffsangthenightingale, Thegirlbegantoweep.
Ah,donotweep,mydearestlove, Withinayearyoushallbemine, Youshallbeminemostcertainly, Asnooneelseonearth.
Oloveuponthegreenearth.
I’mgoingtowar,tothegreenheath, Thegreenheathsofaraway Therewherethesplendidtrumpetssound, Thereismyhomeofgreenturf.
IrvingGiffordFinewasanAmericancomposer,teacher, andconductor.Fineattended Harvarduniversitywherehestudiedcompositionwith EdwardBurlingameHillandWalter Pistonaswellaspiano,andconducting.HewouldlaterstudycompositionattheAmerican ConservatoryatFontainebleauandRadcliffeCollegeundercomposerandpedagogueNadia Boulanger.FineeventuallybeganhisprofessionalcareeratHarvardteachingcompositionand piano.DuringhistimeteachinginBoston,hebecameclosefriendswithaseriesoflocal composerswhotitledthemselvesthe“BostonSchool”.ThesecomposerswouldincludeArthur
EnglishTranslationbyRichardStokes IrvingFine(1914-1962)Berger,LukasFoss,HaroldShapero,AaronCopland,andLeonardBernstein.Fine’smusic rejectedtheideaofself-expressioninmusic,believinglessexpressionwouldservethepieceand allowittobemoreexpressive.Herejectedtheromanticismandfavoredthecontemporarystyle andexpressedhismusicwithmarkedlyricismovercontrapuntaltextures,ascanbeheardinhis songcycle Childhood Fables for Grown-ups.
Childhood Fables for Grown-ups isagroupofsixpieceswithlyricsbyGertrudeNorman andmusicbyIrvingFine.EachpieceisdedicatedtoacomposerfromtheBostonSchool,and depictsananimalortwoinanAesop'sFablesmanner.Thethirdsongofthisset,“Lennythe Leopard”,isdedicatedtoLeonardBernsteinandportraysayoungleopardattemptingtochange hisappearance.Thelyricisminthevocallineandpianointhefirsttwothirdsofthepiece accompaniedbythedistressedmoodsetbytheostinatosinC-minor.Thisisthenjuxtaposedby thelastthirdofthepieceastheharmonictextureopensupandpivotstotheparallelkeyof C-majorasLenny’smothercomfortsandassureshim.
LennytheLeopard
LennytheLeopardhatedhisspots. Hecoveredthemoverwithpurpleblots Andtiedhistailinahundredknots.
Hepaintedhisears,onered,oneblue, Anddippedhisnoseinapotofglue, Andeverythingelsebadleopardsdo.
Buthismothersaid, “Lenny,Istillloveyou. You’remybaby,andIloveyou.”
LizaLehmann(1862-1918)
Bornintoamiddle-classBritishfamily,LizaLehmanngrewuptakingvoiceand compositionlessons.Shebeganhermusicalcareerasasinger,singinginaMondayPops Concertin1885,andsubsequentlylaunchingherintofameforherbeautifulsopranovoice.Over thenextnineyears,shetookvarioussingingengagementsacrossEngland,andeventually married,settleddown,andcontinuedworkingonhercompositionswhileteachingontheside. Afterthedeathofhereldestsonin1916,shetookahiatusfromcomposing,andresumedalmost ayearlaterwiththeintentiononproducingemotional,yetlightheaterpieces.Heavilyinfluenced byhertimespentabroadandinspiredbyClaraSchumann,Lehmannwasdrawntocomposting andperformingart-songs.Shewasabletoproduceover350soloandsmallensembleworks
duringherlifeandisconsideredtobeoneofthemostinfluentialfemaleBritishcomposersofthe 19thcenturyaccordingtoscholars.
Lehmann’sstyleofmusicisdescribedashavingalightnesstoit,yetsheisflexible enoughasacomposertopivotfromthewistfultothepassionate.Severalofhercompositionsare children'ssongsthatpossessaplayfulwitandareoftenhumorousasseeninhersongcycle Four Cautionary Tales and a Moral.Thissongcycleisderived fromHilaireBelloc’sbookofpoetry Cautionary Tales for Children,andtellsthesatiricalstoriesoffivechildrenallofwhommeetan untimelyendduetotheirownshortcomingswiththeexceptionofonechild.Inthesecondsong, “Jim”,thetitularcharacterfallspreytoahungrylionafterrunningawayfromhisnursemaid. Theretellingofthegrizzlystoryisdichotomizedbythegentleskipinthepianomimickingthe swingofanurserysong.Thevocallineremainssimpleandisoftendoubledbythepianosoasto allowthesingerfreedomandflexibilitytoplaywiththecharactersofthepieceaswellasthe text.
Jim TherewasaboywhosenamewasJim: Hisfriendswereverygoodtohim. Theygavehimtea,andcakes,andjam, Andslicesofdeliciousham.
Theyreadhimstoriesthroughandthough, AndeventookhimtotheZooButthereitwasthedreadfulFate
Befellhim,whichInowrelate.
Youknow-atleastyououghttoknow, ForIhaveoftentoldyousoThatchildrenneverareallowed
Toleavetheirnursesinacrowd; NowthiswasJim'sespecialfoible, Heranawaywhenhewasable, Andonthisinauspiciousday
Heslippedhishandandranaway!
Hehadn'tgoneayardwhen-bang!
Withopenjaws,alionsprang, Andhungrilybegantoeat
TheBoy:beginningathisfeet. Nowjustimaginehowitfeels
Whenfirstyourtoesandthenyourheels
Andthenbygradualdegrees,
Yourshinsandankles,calvesandknees, Areslowlyeaten,bitbybit.
NowonderJimdetestedit!
Nowonderthatheshouted'Hi!'
Thehonestkeeperheardhiscry, Thoughveryfathealmostran Tohelpthelittlegentleman.
'Ponto!'hecried,withangryfrown
'Letgo,sir!Down,sir!Putitdown!'
ButwhenhebenthimoverJim
Thehonestkeeper'seyesweredim
Thelionhavingreachedhishead
Themiserableboywasdead.
WhenNurseinformedhisparentsthey WeremoreconcernedthanIcansay:Hismother,asshedriedhereyes, Said,'Well-itgivesmenosurprise, Hewouldnotdoashewastold!' Hisfather,whowasself-controlled Badeallthechildrenroundattend
ToJames'miserableend, Andalwayskeepa-holdofNurse Forfearoffindingsomethingworse.
TextbyHilaireBelloc JakeHeggie(b.1961)Americanpianistandcomposer,JakeHeggie,grewuplisteningtojazzandAmerican musicaltheater.SingerssuchasJulieAndrewsandBarbraStreisandprovedtobeofgreat influenceonhisearlycompositions.Atage16,HeggiestudiedcompositionwithErnestBacon, andlaterwentontoattendUCLAwherehestudiedpianowithJohanaHarrisandcomposition withPaulDesMarais,RogerBourland,andDavidRaskin.Duetoanunfortunatehandinjury, Heggie’spianocareerwascutshort,andhemovedtosolelycompositioninstead.Drawnto AmericancomposerssuchasLeonardBernstein,SamuelBarber,andStephenSondheim,Heggie managestocombineseveraldifferentgenresinhisworks.Heisnotedforhislyricismandtext settingsthatallowdramaticstorytelling.Thoughhehascomposedfororchestra,heismostwell
knownforhiscontributionstoartsongandopera,specificallyhisopera Dead Man Walking. His characteristicallyplayful,jazzystylemakeshisworksamongthefavoritestobeperformedinthe standardrepertoire.
“TheLeather-WingedBat”waspublishedin1994aspartofthethreesongcycle Three Folk Songs.ThoughthetuneisanAmericanfolkmelody, thetextisderivedfromasongfound in Child Ballads,abookofEnglishandScottishsongsandpoetrycollectedbyAmericanscholar, FrancisChild.Thetextlikelyhasitsoriginsinasongaboutthreeravensdeliberatingwhatand wheretoeat,andwaseventuallyadaptedintoaseriesofbirdsandotherflyingcreatures discussingloveandcourtship.Heggie’sarrangementofthispiecekeepsthevoicelinesimple whilegivingthefolksongflarewiththerepetitionofthe“High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohday,...”inthechorus.Thepianomimicstheflappingofwingswiththe rapidarpeggiationsinthefirstverseandagaininthethirdversebeforemovingintoamore folk-likeidiominthesecondversepotentiallymimickingthesoundofamandolinorbanjo.The pianoharmonyinthefinalverseopensupcheekilyoutliningthevocalmelodyastheRobin describestheirowncourtshiptactics.
TheLeather-WingedBat
Hi,saidthelittleoldleather-wingedbat, Iwilltellyouthereasonthat, ThereasonthatIflyinthenight: I’velostmyheart’sdelight.
High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohday
High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum DiddleDiddledum!Dahdayoh…
Hi,saidthewoodpeckersittin’onthefence, OnceIcaughtmeahandsomewench, Shegotsassyandfrommefled, andeversincethen:myhead’sbeenred!
High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohday, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, DiddleDiddledum!Dahdayoh…
Hi,saidthebluebirdasheflew, OnceIcaughtmeayounggirl,too,
Shegotsassyandwantedtogo–SoItiedanewstringtomybow.
High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohday, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, DiddleDiddledum!Dahdayoh…
Hi,saidtherobinasheflew, WhenIwasayoungman,I’dcourt,too, Ifaonedidn’tloveme,theotheronewould, Now,don’tyouthinkmynotion’sgood?
High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohday, High-ohday-ohdiddle-ohdum, DiddleDiddledum!Dahdayoh…
TextbyAnonymous,andadaptedbyJakeHeggie
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