TEXTS & TRANSLATIONS
Oh, lost enchantment of my dearly beloved!
Far from my eyes is he who was, to me, glory and pride!
Now through the empty rooms
I always seek him and call him with a heart full of hopes?
But I seek in vain, I call in vain!
And the weeping is so dear to me, that with weeping alone I nourish my heart.
It seems to me, without him, sad everywhere. The day seems like night to me; the fire seems cold to me.
If, however, I sometimes hope to give myself to another cure, one thought alone torments me:
But without him, what shall I do?
To me, life seems a vain thing without my beloved.
Pure la luna splende.
Fly, o serenade:
My beloved is alone, with her beautiful head hid under the sheets:
O serenade, fly. O serenade, fly.
The moonlight is pure, wings of silence stretch out, and behind the veils of the dark alcove the lamp burns.
The pure moonbeams shine.
Vola, o serenata,
Vola, o serenata, vola.
Ah! là. Ah! là.
Vola, o serenata:
La mia diletta è sola, ma sorridendo ancor mezzo assonnata, torna fra le lenzuola:
O serenata, vola.
O serenata, vola.
L’onda sogna su ‘l lido, e ‘l vento su la fronda; e a’ baci miei ricusa ancore un nido la mia signora bionda.
Sogna su ‘l lido l’onda.
Sogna su ‘l lido l’onda.
Vola, o serenata,
Vola, o serenata, vola.
Ah! là. Ah! là.
AN SYLVIA
Was ist Silvia, saget an,
Daß sie die weite Flur preist?
Schön und zart seh' ich sie nah'n,
Auf Himmels Gunst und Spur weist,
Daß ihr Alles unterthan.
Ist sie schön und gut dazu?
Reiz labt wie milde Kindheit;
Ihrem Aug' eilt Amor zu,
Dort heilt er seine Blindheit,
The pure moonbeams shine.
Fly, o serenade,
Fly, o serenade, fly.
Ah! là. Ah! là.
Fly, o serenade:
My beloved is alone, but still smiling [while] half asleep she has returned beneath the sheets:
O serenade, fly.
O serenade, fly.
The waves dream on the shore, and the wind [blows] through the branches; and my kisses don’t result in a nest [being offered], by my blonde lady.
Dreaming on the shore, [are] the waves. Dreaming on the shore, [are] the waves.
Fly, o serenade.
Fly, o serenade, fly.
Ah! là. Ah! là.
Who is Silvia? what is she?
That all our Swaines commend her?
Holy, faire, and wise is she.
The heavens such grace did lend her, That she might admired be.
Is she kinde as she is faire?
For beauty lives with kindnesse: Love doth to her eyes repaire, To helpe him of his blindnesse:
Pure la luna splende.
Und verweilt in süßer Ruh.
Darum Silvia tön', o Sang, Der holden Silvia Ehren; Jeden Reiz besiegt sie lang, Den Erde kann gewähren:
Kränze ihr und Saitenklang!
FRÜHLINGSTRAUM
Ich träumte von bunten Blumen, So wie sie wohl blühen im Mai, Ich träumte von grünen Wiesen, Von lustigem Vogelgeschrei.
Und als die Hähne krähten, Da ward mein Auge wach; Da war es kalt und finster, Es schrieen die Raben vom Dach.
Doch an den Fensterscheiben,
Wer mahlte die Blätter da?
Ihr lacht wohl über den Träumer, Der Blumen im Winter sah?
Ich träumte von Lieb' um Liebe, Von einer schönen Maid, Von Herzen und von Küssen, Von Wonn' und Seligkeit.
Und als die Hähne krähten, Da ward mein Herze wach; Nun sitz' ich hier alleine
Und denke dem Traume nach.
And being help'd, inhabits there.
Then to Silvia, let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortall thing Upon the dull earth dwelling.
To her let us Garlands bring.
Die Augen schließ' ich wieder, Noch schlägt das Herz so warm.
I dreamt of colorful flowers
Such as bloom in May;
I dreamt of green meadows, Of merry bird songs.
And when the roosters crowed, My eyes awoke; It was cold and dark, The ravens were shrieking on the roof.
But there on the window panes, Who painted those leaves?
Do you laugh at the dreamer, Who saw flowers in winter?
I dreamt of requited love, Of a beautiful girl, Of hearts and of kisses, Of bliss and happiness.
And when the roosters crowed, My heart awoke.
Now I sit here alone, And think about my dream.
I shut my eyes again, My heart still beats warmly.
Wann grünt ihr Blätter am Fenster?
Wann halt' ich dich, Liebchen, im Arm?
STÄNDCHEN
Leise flehen meine Lieder
Durch die Nacht zu Dir;
In den stillen Hain hernieder, Liebchen, komm' zu mir!
Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
In des Mondes Licht;
Des Verräthers feindlich Lauschen
Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Ach! sie flehen Dich, Mit der Töne süßen Klagen
Flehen sie für mich.
Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen, Kennen Liebesschmerz, Rühren mit den Silbertönen
Jedes weiche Herz.
Laß auch Dir die Brust bewegen, Liebchen, höre mich!
Bebend harr' ich Dir entgegen; Komm', beglücke mich!
RÊVE D’AMOUR
S'il est un charmant gazon
Que le ciel arrose, Où naisse en toute saisson
Quelque fleur éclose,
Où l'on cueille à pleine main Lys, chèvrefeuille et jasmin,
When will you leaves on the window turn green? When will I hold my beloved in my arms?
My songs beckon softly through the night to you; below in the quiet grove, Come to me, beloved!
The rustle of slender leaf tips whispers in the moonlight;
Do not fear the evil spying of the betrayer, my dear.
Do you hear the nightingales call?
Ah, they beckon to you, With the sweet sound of their singing they beckon to you for me.
They understand the heart's longing, know the pain of love, They calm each tender heart with their silver tones.
Let them also stir within your breast, beloved, hear me!
Trembling I wait for you, Come, please me!
If there is a charming lawn which heaven waters, where each new season is a blooming flower, Where one picks hands full of lilies, honeysuckle and jasmine,
J'en veux faire le chemin
Où ton pied se pose !
S'il est un sein bien aimant
Dont l'honneur dispose !
Dont le tendre dévoûement
N'ait rien de morose,
Si toujours ce noble sein
Bat pour un digne dessein,
J'en veux faire le coussin
Où ton front se pose !
S'il est un rêve d'amour,
Parfumé de rose,
Où l'on trouve chaque jour
Quelque douce chose,
Un rêve que Dieu bénit,
Où l'âme à l'âme s'unit,
Oh ! j'en veux faire le nid
Où ton cœur se pose!
AU BORD DE L’EAU
S'asseoir tous deux au bord d'un flot qui passe,
Le voir passer ;
Tous deux, s'il glisse un nuage en l'espace,
Le voir glisser ;
À l'horizon, s'il fume un toit de chaume,
Le voir fumer ;
Aux alentours si quelque fleur embaume,
S'en embaumer ;
Entendre au pied du saule où l'eau murmure
L'eau murmurer ;
Ne pas sentir, tant que ce rêve dure,
Le temps durer ;
Mais n'apportant de passion profonde
Qu'à s'adorer,
I would like to make of it a pathway where your foot might step!
If there is a loving breast where honor lives! Whose tender devotion is never morose, If always this noble breast beats for a worthy purpose, I wish to make of it the cushion on which your head might rest!
If there is a dream of love perfumed with roses, where every day we find some sweet thing, a dream that God blesses, where souls are united, oh! I wish to make of it the nest where your heart might remain!
To sit together beside the passing stream and watch it pass; if a cloud glides by in the sky, together to watch it glide; if a thatched house sends up smoke on the horizon, to watch it smoke; if a flower spreads fragrance nearby, to take on its fragrance; under the willow where the water murmurs, to listen to it murmuring; for the time that this dream endures, not to feel its duration; but, having no deep passion except adoration for one another,
Sans nul souci des querelles du monde,
Les ignorer ;
Et seuls, heureux devant tout ce qui lasse,
Sans se lasser,
Sentir l'amour, devant tout ce qui passe,
Ne point passer !
DEIN BLAUES AUGE HÄLT
Dein blaues Auge hält so still,
Ich blicke bis zum Grund.
Du fragst mich, was ich sehen will?
Ich sehe mich gesund.
Es brannte mich ein glühend Paar,
Noch schmerzt das Nachgefühl;
Das deine ist wie See so klar
Und wie ein See so kühl.
ALLERSEELEN
Stell auf den Tisch die duftenden Reseden,
Die letzten roten Astern trag herbei,
Und laß uns wieder von der Liebe reden,
Wie einst im Mai.
Gib mir die Hand, daß ich sie heimlich drücke
Und wenn man's sieht, mir ist es einerlei,
Gib mir nur einen deiner süßen Blicke,
Wie einst im Mai.
Es blüht und [funkelt]1 heut auf jedem Grabe,
Ein Tag im [Jahre ist den]2 Toten frei,
without concern for the world's quarrels, to ignore them; and alone together, in the face of all wearying things, unwearyingly, to feel love (unlike all things that pass away) not passing away!
Your blue eyes keep so still
That I can gaze upon their very depths. You ask me what I want to see?
I see my own well-being.
A glowing pair burned me once; The after-effect still hurts.
Yet your eyes are like the sea so clear, And like a lake, so cool [and detached].
Place on the table the fragrant mignonettes,
Bring inside the last red asters, and let us speak again of love, as once we did in May.
Give me your hand, so that I can press it secretly; and if someone sees us, it's all the same to me.
Just give me your sweet gaze, as once you did in May.
Flowers adorn today each grave, sending off their fragrances; one day in the year is free for the dead1 .
Komm an mein Herz, daß ich dich wieder habe,
Wie einst im Mai.
GO, LOVELY ROSE
Go, lovely Rose!
Tell her, that wastes her time and me,
That now she knows,
When I resemble her to thee,
How sweet and fair she seems to be.
Tell her that's young,
And shuns to have her graces spied
That hadst thou sprung
In deserts, where no men abide,
Thou must have uncommended died.
Small is the worth
Of beauty from the light retir'd;
Bid her come forth,
Suffer herself to be desir'd,
And not blush so to be admir'd.
Then die! that she
The common fate of all things rare
May read in thee:
How small a part of time they share
That are so wondrous sweet and fair!
Come close to my heart, so that I can have you again, as once I did in May.
Yet though thou fade, From thy dead leaves let fragrance rise; And teach the maid
That goodness time's rude hand defies; That virtue lives when beauty dies.
SIMPLE SONG
Sing God a simple song, lauda laude.
make it up as you go along, lauda laude.
Sing like you like to sing; God loves all simple simple things.
For God is the simplest of all, for God is the simplest of all.
I will sing the Lord a new song; to praise him, to bless him, to bless the Lord.
I will sing his praises, while I live, all of my days.
Blessed is the man who loves the lord, blessed is the man who praises him; lauda lauda laude.
And walks in his ways.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help I will lift up my voice to the Lord singing lauda laude.
For the Lord is my shade, is the shade above my right hand. And the Sun shall not smite me by day; nor the Moon by night, blessed is the man who loves the Lord, lauda lauda laude.
And walks in his ways...
lauda Laude, lauda lauda di da di de. All of my days...
Lauda
LaSerenata,FrancescoPaoloTosti(1846-1916)
Francesco Paolo Tosti was an Italian composer and violinist who was so adept in music from a young age that he was offered a position to be the student teacher of Saverio Mercadante, a renowned opera composer at the time. Fortune, however, did not find him until much later in life and he spent much of his youth sick and impoverished. When fortune did find him, it found him in England when he was appointed to be the singing master for the royal family. “La Serenata” was composed during Tosti’s time as the singing master.
Odelmioamatoben, StefanoDonaudy(1879-1925)
Stefano Donaudy was an Italian composer active mostly from 1890 and the early 20th century, with his first compositions dating to when he was only 13 years old. “O del mio amato ben” is from his collection “36 Airs of Ancient Styles,” of which much of his fame today comes from. Almost all of the songs of his in the modern canon come from this collection, due to its captivating melodies and soaring accompaniment.
AnSylvia,Frühlingstraum,andStändchen,FranzSchubert(1797-1828)
Franz Schubert is often described as “the last classical composer,” due to his life as well as his compositional techniques overlapping with both the classical and romantic periods. He lived a tragic life, almost entirely unrecognized for his compositions except for a club of admirers known as the “Schubertiads.” Despite this, Schubert is still considered one of the great composers, being described by Beethoven himself as “[containing] the spark of divine genius!”
“Frühlingstraum” is from his song cycle Winterreise, published in the year of his death 1828. He is given credit for pioneering song cycles as a genre, composing two of them in his lifetime. “Ständchen,” is from his song collection Schwanengesang, published in the same year as Winterreise, but this posthumously. Some consider Schwanengesang to be a song cycle due its similarities to other works in the genre, and others do not due to its inclusion of more than one poet’s work
Rêved’amour,andAuborddel’eau,GabrielFauré(1845-1924)
When Gabriel Fauré was alive he was recognized as the most influential composer in France. He received his musical education from experts such as Camille Saint-Saëns (a life-long friend of Fauré) at the École Niedermeyer school. His music is often stated to link romanticism to modernism, with his later style leaning more towards complex modernism than anything else. “Rêve d’amour” is set to words by the great French author and poet Victor Hugo, and “Au bord de l’eau” is set to a poem by Sully Prodhomme from his book Les Vaines Tendresses (The Vain Tenderness).
DeinblauesAugehält,JohannesBrahms(1833-1897)
Johannes Brahms was one of the figureheads of conservative Romantic composers, often drawing on classical forms and compositional styles to emphasize his interest in musical historicism. Brahms, in addition to being one of the most well-known composers of all time, was also a renowned conductor. It is often stated that Brahms filled his score with details so fine that one could not possibly misconstrue his intentions. “Dein blaues Auge hält” is a setting of a poem by Klaus Groth, a friend of the composer.
Allerseelen, RichardStrauss(1864-1949)
Richard Strauss was a German composer and conductor, famous for his tone poems and operas. He's considered one of the great composers of both the late romantic and early modern periods. Allerseelen is set to the poetry of Austrian poet Herman von Gilm, about the Catholic holiday “All Souls Day,” in which it is believed on the second of November the souls of those who've you've lost may be met with once more.
PROGRAM NOTES
GoLovelyRose,RogerQuilter(1877-1953)
Roger Quilter is often regarded as the leading influence in English art song literature, a title justly earned by the dozens of compositions of his that are mainstays in recital repertoire. As a gay man in early/mid-20th century England his life was filled with overcoming biases and social pressures, but nonetheless he had a fruitful career and was wellrespected by his peers. “Go Lovely Rose” was originally a lyric poem by Edmund Waller that Quilter set in his collection of Five English Love Songs. Although the song certainly speaks to cherishing love and beauty to an extent, the poem mostly speaks to the crushing pressure society places on women to maintain external beauty. This was an extremely progressive issue for Waller to be emphasizing as early as 1645, and still unfortunately progressive for Quilter to be echoing in 1923, three years after the 19th amendments ratification in the United States and five years after only upper-class women began to be allowed to vote in England.
SimpleSong,LeonardBernstein(1918-199)
Leonard Bernstein is best known for being the most influential conductor of the 20th century, as well as an accomplished composer of musicals (West Side Story, among others), symphonies, and an opera. Simple Song comes from Bernstein’s MASS, A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers, with words by the legendary Stephen Schwartz of Pippin, Wicked, and many others. MASS was commissioned by first lady Jaqueline Kennedy for the opening of the Kennedy Center in 1971, a theater opened in memory of the late President Kennedy.
