Rhianna Cockrell, mezzo-soprano, early music, May 3, 2021

Robert Blocker, Dean May 3, 2021 7:30 pm | Morse Recital Hall in Sprague Memorial Hall

master of musical arts degree recital

Rhianna Cockrell mezzo-soprano Early music

Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre 1665–1729

“Susanne” from Cantates françaises sur des sujets tirés de l’écriture, Livre 1 (1708)

Antoine Houdar de La Motte

Jeffrey Grossman, harpsichord

Julia Perry 1924–1979

Stabat Mater (1951) I. Stabat Mater II. O quam tristis III. Quis est homo IV. Pro peccatis V. Eia mater VI. Sancta mater

Jacopone da Todi

Tomoko Nakayama, piano

intermission

Josephine Lang 1815–1880

Fünf Gesänge, Op. 43 I. Hochzeitsgesang IV. Scheiden

Matthias Claudius C. Reinhold

Tomoko Nakayama, piano

Rebecca Clarke 1886–1979

June Twilight (1926)

John Masefield

The Seal Man (1922)

Masefield

Tomoko Nakayama, piano

Amelia Brey b. 1994

the night I died again (2020) Commissioned by Rhianna Cockrell Tomoko Nakayama, piano

Rúnatal DavinoCollins

Nadia Boulanger 1887–1979

Le couteau (1922)

Camille Mauclair

Doute (1922)

Mauclair

Au bord de la route (1922)

Mauclair

L’échange (1922)

Mauclair

Soir d’hiver (1914–1915)

Boulanger

Tomoko Nakayama, piano

This performance is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master of musical arts degree.

Susanne

Susanne

Contre la saison trop ardente Susanne, d’une eau claire empruntoit la fraîcheur; et cachez pour la voir, deux Viellards qu’elle enchante, d’un regard attentive irritoient leur ardeur.

In the heat of summer, Susanne bathed and relaxed in the clear water; Hidden, to see her, two old men whom she enchanted aroused their passion with a watchful glance.

Indiscrette Jeunesse, qui suivez les Amours; ne croyez pas que la vieillesse, contre-eux vous garde aucun secours.

Indiscreet youth, who follow the Loves; do not believe that old age will protect you against them.

Celuy qu’Amour entraîne, dans son jeune printemps, traîne toûjour sa chaîne, jusqu’à ses derniers ans.

The one that Love traps in his young spring, always drags Love’s chain until his final years.

Les beautez de Susanne animent leur audace, ces odieux Amants osent se découvrir; leur amour, joint á la menace, veut l’effrayer ou l’attendrir.

The beauties of Susanne arouse them further, these odious lovers dare to reveal themselves; their love, combined with a threat, will either frighten or soften her.

Cedez, il faut vous rendre, a nos ardents desirs; pourrez-vous vous défendre, des plus charmants plaisirs.

Give in, we must return to our heartfelt desires; can you defend yourselves from the most charming pleasures?

Soulagez nôtre peine, ou dés ce même jour, redoutez une haine egale á nôtre amour.

Relieve our grief, or on this very day dread a hatred equal to that of our love.

Ils doivent l’accuser d’une ardeur criminelle, que la Loy punit de la mort; pour vaincre sa vertu rebelle, c’est de ce piege adroit que se sert leur transport.

Inhumains, est ce ainsi que vous prétendez plaire?

Susanne, quel peril, helas! qu’allez-vous faire?

They must accuse her of a criminal lust which the law punishes with death; to conquer her rebellious virtue, this is the skillful trap they use.

Animals, is this pleasing to you?

Susanne, what danger, alas! what are you going to do?

Vous rendrez-vous à leur courroux, pour éviter la mort, la meriterez vous?

Will you surrender yourself to their wrath to avoid death, do you deserve it?

Non, dit l’Herorïne constante, vous pouvez me faire perir; mais, s’il me faut mourir, je mourray du moins innocente.

No, says the steadfast heroine, you can make me perish; but, if I must die, I will at least die innocent.

Que la même ardeur nous anime, un cœur innocent ne craint rien; non, pour luy le jour n’est un bien, que quand il en jouït sans crime.

The same passion animates us, an innocent heart fears nothing.

No, for it the day is only good when enjoyed without crime.

Stabat Mater

Stood the Mother

Stabat mater dolorosa juxta Crucem lacrymosa dum pendebat filius;

Stood the Mother sadly weeping, near the cross her presence keeping, whereon hung the only Son;

Cujus animam gementem, contristatam et dolentem pertransivit gladius.

Through her spirit, sharing His sorrow and anguish, through whom passed the cruel sword.

O quam tristis et afflicta fuit illa benedicta, mater unigeniti.

O how mournful and afflicted was this favored and most blessed mother of the Only Son.

Quae morebat et dolebat et tremebat dum videbat nati poenas inclyti.

Through His dying, suff’ring, grieving, as she trembled scare perceiving pains of the illustrious One.

Quis est homo qui non fleret, Christi matrem si videret in tanto supplicio?

Who is the man who could not weep seeing there the Mother of Christ in great supplication?

Qui non posset contristari piam matrem contemplari, dolentem cum filio?

Who could not give consolation to the Mother contemplating, mournful with her Child?

Pro peccatis suae gentis vidit Jesum in tormentis et flagellis subditum.

For the sinning of His people, she saw her Jesus in great torment beaten with the scourger’s rod;

Vidit Jesum dolcem natum morientem desolatum dum emisit spiritum.

She saw her sweet One dying forsaken, crying, yield His spirit up to God.

Eia mater fons amoris me sentire vim doloris fac, ut tecum lugeum;

Tender Mother, fount of love, let me feel thy sadness, that with thee my tears shall flow;

Fac, ut ardeat cor meum, in amando Christum Deum ut sibi complaceam.

Make my heart so steadfast for Him, make it burn with love for thy Son, that I may be pleasing unto Him.

Sancta Mater istud agas crucifixi fige plagas corde meo valide.

Holy Mother, this be granted: let His wounds be firmly planted in my heart forevermore,

Tui nati vulnerati tam dignati pro me pati, poenas meam divide.

See the Savior wounded, suffering unbounded depths for me; pangs of grief divide me.

Translation by Julia Perry

Hochzeitsgesang

Wedding Song

Stand ein junges Veilchen, auf der Waiden, Lieb und herzig, in sich und bescheiden.

Und ein wackrer Jüngling über Land kam hin. da das Veilchen stand.

A young violet stood in the pastures, dear, sweet, and modest.

Over the land came a brave young lad to where the violet stood.

Und er sah das Veilchen auf der Waiden.

Lieb und herzig, in sich bescheiden.

Sah es an mit Liebe und mit Lust.

Wünscht es sich an seine Brust.

And he saw the violet in the pasture, dear, sweet, and modest.

He looked at it with love and desire, he wished to wear it on his chest.

Heute wird das Blümchen, das Veilchen ihm gegeben.

Dass er’s trag an seiner Brust durch’s Leben.

Und ein Kreis von edlen Menschen, steht ernst und feiert mit Gebet.

Today the violet will be given that he may wear it on his chest throughout his life.

And a circle of noble people stand serious, celebrating with prayer.

Seid den glücklich! Gott mit Euch Ihr Beide.

Seine Sonn’ am Himmel. Schein Euch Freude.

Und in Eurer Freud’, und in Eurem Schmerz.

Seine ew’ge Sonne! Seine Sonne Euch in’s Herz!

Then be happy! God be with me and with you.

May his sun in the sky shine with joy.

And in your joy and your pain be his eternal sun! May his sun shine in your hearts!

Scheiden

Parting

Warum muss ach, das Scheiden sein? darum man muss so bittre Pein erleiden?

Kein bösres Wort in aller Welt. Tod spricht es!

Und wem es recht auf’s Herze fällt dem bricht es.

Ah, why must there be parting? through which one has to suffer such bitter pain?

There is no word more evil in the world. Death speaks it!

And whoever’s heart it falls on breaks.

Halt, was du liebst, fest an der Brust. O scheue dich!

Zusammen trägt sich Leid und Lust so freudig.

Warum muss ach, das Scheiden sein? Tod spricht es!

Und wem es recht auf’s Herze fällt dem bricht es.

Hold what you love tightly to your chest. Oh, be afraid!

Together, sorrow and pleasure can be borne so happily.

Ah, why must there be parting? Death speaks it!

And whoever’s heart it falls on breaks.

June Twilight

The Seal Man

The twilight comes; the sun dips down and sets, the boys have done play at the nets.

And he came by her cabin to the west of the road, calling.

There was a strong love came up in her at that, and she put down her sewing on the table, and “Mother,” she says, “There’s no lock, and no key, and no bolt, and no door.

There’s no iron, nor no stone, nor anything at all will keep me this night from the man I love.”

In a warm golden glow the woods are steeped.

The shadows grow; the bat has cheeped.

Sweet smells the new-mown hay; The mowers pass home, each his way, through the grass.

The night-wind stirs the fern, a night-jar spins; the windows burn in the inns.

Dusky it grows. The moon!

The dews descend.

Love, can this beauty in our hearts end?

And she went out into the moonlight to him, there by the bush where the flow’rs is pretty, beyond the river.

And he says to her: “You are all of the beauty of the world, will you come where I go, over the waves of the sea?”

And she says to him: “My treasure and my strength,” she says, “I would follow you on the frozen hills, my feet bleeding.”

Then they went down into the sea together, and the moon made a track on the sea, and they walked down it; it was like a flame before them.

There was no fear at all on her; only a great love like the love of the Old Ones, that was stronger than the touch of the fool.

She had a little white throat, and little cheeks like flowers, and she went down into the sea with her man, who wasn’t a man at all.

She was drowned, of course.

It’s like he never thought that she wouldn’t bear the sea like himself.

She was drowned, drowned.

Trigger warning: The following piece discusses issues of gender dysphoria and suicide. If this material is triggering for you, feel free to put the stream on mute for the duration of the piece. the night I died again let me in let me into your smoky halls let me past the first gate into your firebreathing lions’ den exchange us some abusive pleasantries tell me about the weather tell me I should never have been born but how you stick by me nonetheless you wanted a son he would have been so beautiful you mourn him though he never was you tell me I killed him and so you gathered the relics of my presence the artifacts of my life you piled them out on my bed, my floor you hid them away in the night I can see you there, working the smoke hangs in my curtains still your putrid hate fueling the fire in your mouth the coals are cooling; you only have so long to burn me and I’ve poured pills in my blood to speed me to sleep cursèd is your bloodline that lineage of murderers I didn’t kill your son, but I’ll kill his replacement before you get the chance

Le couteau

The knife

J’ai un couteau dans l’cœur, une belle l’a planté.

J’ai un couteau dans l’cœur et ne peux pas l’ôter.

I have a knife in my heart, a beauty planted it there.

I have a knife in my heart and I cannot remove it.

C’couteau c’est l’amour d’elle, une belle l’a planté.

Tout mon cœur sortirait avec tout mon regret.

This knife is her love, a beauty planted it there.

All of my heart would come out with all of my regret.

Il y faut un baiser, une belle l’a planté.

Un baiser sur le cœur mais ell’ ne veut pas l’donner.

It would take a kiss, a beauty planted it there.

A kiss on the heart, but she does not want to give it.

Couteau rest en mon cœur si la plus belle t’y a planté!

J’veux bien me mourir d’elle, mais j’veux pas l’oublier.

Knife, remain in my heart if the most beautiful one planted you there.

I would die because of her, but I do not want to forget.

Doute

Doubt

Il y a si longtemps que ton ȃme est en chemin, a ce que m’ont dit les anges, vers moi qui t’attends en joignant les mains, il y a si longtemps que peutêtre elle perdit la route puisque je ne vois rien au lointain des quatre chemains qui font croix au carrefour du doute.

Your soul has been on its way to me for so long, I was told by the angels.

I wait for it with clasped hands.

It has been so long that perhaps she lost the road, since I do not see anything in the distance of the four paths, which makes a cross at the crossroads of doubt.

Voici venir le souffle froid qui chasse oiseaux, soleil et branches et ramêne brouillard et nuit sur mon espoir et sur ma foi.

Faudrat’il m’en aller comme un qui n’attend plus et s’en retourne, en la nullité de la nuit vers la maison et vers l’ennui.

Here comes the cold breath that chases away birds, the sun, and the leaves and brings back the fog and the night onto my hope and my faith.

As someone who can’t wait any longer, do I need to return back to the nothingness of night, towards the house and towards boredom?

Au bord de la route

By the side of the road

Cet homme ne voulait plus vivre voyons de quoi vous mêlez vous?

Monsieur, madame, en verité, cet homme en avait assez.

That man no longer wanted to live, see what you’ve gotten involved in?

Sir, madame, it’s true: that man has had enough.

Son cœur était comme une pierre, mais si quelqu’un l’avait ouvert peutêtre dans ce cœur d’amant aurait-il vu le diamant.

His heart was like a stone, but if someone were to open it, perhaps within this heart of a lover they would have seen the diamond.

Mais la pierre était si pesante qu’il s’est couché sur le chemin en serrant sur elle ses mains et il est mort de son attente.

But the stone was so heavy that he laid down on the road, hands tightened, having died from his waiting.

Cet homme en avait assez avec lui le joyau mourra monsieur, madame, il se fait tard, un signe de croix et passez.

That man has had enough, and with him the jewel will die.

Sir, madame, it’s getting late.

Offer a sign of the cross and continue on.

L’échange

The exchange

Lorsqu’il fut ivre et desole d’avoir donné le plus beau de son ȃme a des gens mechant ou presses il donna le reste à une pauvre femme qui lui donna la sienne en échange la sienne pure comme un ange.

When he was sorry and drunk, he gave the best part of his soul to wicked people, and he gave the rest to a poor woman, who gave him her own in exchange.

A soul pure like an angel.

Échange, triste échange, anneau de fer contre anneau d’or.

Exchange, sad exchange, a ring of iron for a ring of gold.

Lorsqui’il eut bien pleuré sur ses genoux Lorqu’elle eut dit tous ses mots doux, ceux qu’elle avait appris dans son enfance, ou devinés dans la douleur.

Once he had cried and begged on his knees, she said all of her sweet words, those she had learned in her childhood, or those she had guessed in pain.

Il s’en alla chanter ailleurs, en quittant sa pauvre amante qui mourut de son attente elle bénit en derniere heure.

He went away to sing elsewhere, leaving his poor lover who died of her waiting, she cried out in her final hour.

Échange, triste échange, il la pleura comme un ange, anneau de fer contre anneau d’or, comme s’il l’aimait encor.

Exchange, sad exchange, he cried over her, the angel, ring of iron for a ring of gold, as if he still loved her.

Soir d’hiver

Winter evening

Une jeune femme berce son enfant: elle est suele, elle pleure, mais elle chante, car il faut bien qu’il entende la chanson douce et tendre pour qu’il s’en dorme.

A young woman cradles her child: she is alone, she weeps, but she sings, because he needs to hear the sweet and tender song so that he can fall asleep.

“Voici Noël, mon petit enfant bleu.

Les cloches sonneront pour que tu sois joyeux.”

“Here is Christmas, my small blue child.

The bells will ring to bring you happiness.”

Celui qu’elle aime est parti…et la chanson s’arrête!

Elle dit: “Où est-il à cette heure? Entend-il ma voix? et sait-il que je vis?”

Elle pleure sis implement que le cœur en a mal.

The one that she loves is gone…and her song stops!

She says: “Where is he at this hour? Does he hear my voice? and does he know that I’m alive?”

She weeps so simply that her heart hurts.

Elle regarde son fils et cherche s’il ressemble à celui qu’elle attend inlassablement, de toute son ȃme, de toute sa tendresse!

Elle pleure, mais elle espére!

Elle entend de loin la Victoire, elle devine la lute sans merci, mais elle croit à la Justice, elle sait qu toute une vie s’est donnée, joyeuse et fiére, et elle attend, auprès de ce berceau si petit, qui tient le cœur d’un homme.

She looks at her son to see if he resembles the one that she waits tirelessly for, with all of her soul and all of her tenderness!

She weeps, but she hopes!

She hears the Victory from afar, she knows the fight was merciless, but she believes in Justice. She knows that he’s alive, happy and proud, and she waits, next to her son’s cradle, so small, which holds the heart of a man.