Berlioz – Villanelle

by: David - July 1st, 2008   Filed under: French, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Villanelle (Op. 7, No. 1, from Les nuits d’été)

Music: Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

Text: Théophile Gautier (1811-1872)

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Quand viendra la saison nouvelle,
Quand auront disparu les froids,
Tous le deux nous iront, ma belle,
Pour cuellir le muguet au bois.
Sous nos pieds égranant les perles
Que l’on voit au matin trembler,
Nous irons écouter les merles,
Nous irons écouter les merles
Siffler.

Le printemps est venu, ma belle,
C’est le mois des amants béni;
Et l’oiseau, satinant son aile,
Dit des vers au rebord du nid.
Oh! viens donc sur ce banc de mousse
Pour parler de nos beaux amours,
Et dis-moi de ta voix si douce,
Toujours!

Loin, bien loin, égarant nos courses,
Faisons fuir le lapin caché,
Et le daim, au miroir des sources,
Admirant son grand bois penché!
Puis chez nous, tout heureux, tout aises,
En paniers enlaçant nos doigts,
Revenons, rapportons des fraises
Des bois!

IPA Transcription:

IPA for Villanelle.

Resources

Chausson – Les Morts

by: David - July 1st, 2008   Filed under: French, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Les Morts (Op. 17, No. 1)

Music: Ernest Chausson (1855-1899)

Text: Jean Richepin (1849-1926)

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Ne crois pas que les morts soient morts
Tant qu’il y aura des vivants
Les morts vivront, les morts vivront.

Lorsque le soleil s’est couché,
Tu n’as qu’à fermer tes deux yeux
Pour qu’il s’y lève, rallumé.

L’oiseau s’envole, l’oiseau s’en va;
Mais pendant qu’il plane là-haut
Son ombre reste sur la terre.

Le souffle que tu m’as fait boire
Sur tes lèvres en t’en allant
Il est en moi, il est en moi;

Un autre te l’avait donné
En s’en allant; en m’en allant,
Je le donnerai à un autre.

De bouche en bouche il a passé,
De bouche en bouche il passera,
Ainsi jamais ne se perdra.

IPA Transcription:

IPA for Les Morts.

Resources

  • Recmusic.org has the text.

Debussy – La Chevelure

by: David - June 28th, 2008   Filed under: French, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: La Chevelure (from Chansons de Bilitis)

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Pierre Louÿs (1870-1925)

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Il m’a dit: “Cette nuit, j’ai rêvé.
J’avais ta chevelure autour de mon cou.
J’avais tes cheveux comme un collier noir
Autour de ma nuque et sur ma poitrine.

Je les caressais, et c’étaient les miens;
Et nous étions liés pour toujours ainsi,
Par la même chevelure, la bouche sur la bouche,
Ainsi que deux lauriers n’ont souvent qu’une racine.

Et peu à peu, il m’a semblé.
Tant nos membres étaient confondus,
Que je devenais toi-même,
Ou que tu entrais en moi comme mon songe.”

Quand il eut achevé,
Il mit doucement ses mains sur mes épaules,
Et il me regarda d’un regard si tendre,
Que je baissai les yeux avec un frisson.

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Debussy – En Sourdine

by: David - June 28th, 2008   Filed under: French, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: En Sourdine (from Fêtes Galantes)

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)

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Calmes dans le demi-jour
Que les branches hautes font,
Pénétrons bien notre amour
De ce silence profond.

Fondons nos âmes, nos coeurs
Et nos sens extasiés,
Parmi les vagues langueurs
Des pins et des arbousiers.

Ferme tes yeux à demi,
Croise tes bras sur ton sein,
Et de ton coeur endormi
Chasse à jamais tout dessein.

Laissons-nous persuader
Au souffle berceur et doux
Qui vient, à tes pieds, rider
Les ondes des gazons roux.

Et quand, solennel, le soir
Des chênes noirs tombera
Voix de notre désespoir,
Le rossignol chantera.

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Debussy – Harmonie du soir

by: David - June 28th, 2008   Filed under: French, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Harmonie du soir

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867)

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Voici venir les temps où vibrant sur sa tige,
Chaque fleur s’évapore ainsi qu’un encensoir;
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir,
Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige.

Chaque fleur s’évapore ainsi qu’un encensoir,
Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu’on afflige,
Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige,
Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir;

Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu’on afflige,
Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir!
Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir;
Le soleil s’est noyé dans son sang qui se fige…

Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir,
Du passé lumineux recueille tout vestige.
Le soleil s’est noyé dans son sang qui se fige,
Ton souvenir en moi luit comme un ostensoir.

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Debussy – Les Cloches

by: David - June 28th, 2008   Filed under: French, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Les Cloches (from Deux Romances)

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Paul Bourget (1852-1935)

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Les feuilles s’ouvraient sur le bord des branches,
délicatement.
Les cloches tintaient, légères et franches,
dans le ciel clément.

Rhythmique et fervent comme une antienne,
ce lointain appel
me remémorait la blancheur chrétienne
des fleurs de l’autel.

Ce cloches parlaient d’heureuses années,
et, dans le grand bois,
semblaient reverdir les feuilles fanées,
des jours d’autrefois.

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Burleigh (arr.) – I don’t feel no-ways tired

by: David - June 22nd, 2008   Filed under: English, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: I don’t feel no-ways tired

Music: Traditional spiritual, arranged by Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)

Text: Traditional

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I am seekin’ for a city, Hallelujah,
I am seekin’ for a city! Hallelu.
For a city into de Hebben, Hallelujah,
For a city into de Hebben, Hallelu.

Lord I don’t feel no-ways tired Childaren!
Oh, glory Hallelujah!
For I hope to shout glory when dis worl’ is on fire Chillen,
Oh, glory Hallelujah!

Dere’s a better day a-comin’, Hallelujah,
Dere’s a better day a-comin’, Hallelu.
When I leave dis worl’ ob sorrow, Hallelujah,
For to jine de holy number, Hallelu.

Lord I don’t feel no-ways tired Childaren!
Oh, glory Hallelujah!
For I hope to shout glory when dis worl’ is on fire Chillen,
Oh, glory Hallelujah!

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Burleigh (arr.) – Go down, Moses

by: David - May 28th, 2008   Filed under: English, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Go down, Moses (Let my people go!)

Music: Traditional spiritual, arranged by Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)

Text: Traditional

Sheet Music

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  • PDF: Go down, Moses
    • Key: G Minor
    • Range: D4 – D5
    • Source: Individual song, ©1917 G. Ricordi & Co.

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When Israel was in Egypt’s lan’,
Let my people go.
Oppress’d so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.

Go down, Moses,
‘Way down in Egypt’s lan’,
Tell ole Pharoh to let my people go.

Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go.
If not, I’ll smite your first born dead,
Let my people go.

Go down, Moses,
‘Way down in Egypt’s lan’,
Tell ole Pharah to let my people go.

[Pharaoh is spelled above as in the score.]

Resources

  • Duke’s Digital Collection has color scans of the original publication of Go down, Moses

Bach – Vergiss mein nicht

by: David - May 28th, 2008   Filed under: German, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Vergiss mien nicht, vergiss mein nicht (BWV 505, from Schemelli’s Gesangbuch)

Music: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Text: Gottfried Arnold (1666-1714)

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Vergiss mein nicht,
vergiss mein nicht, mein allerliebster Gott.
Ach! höre doch mein Flehen,
ach! lass mir Gnad geschehen,
wenn ich hab Angst und Not,
du meine Zuversicht,
vergiss mein nicht, vergiss mein nicht.

Vergiss mein nicht,
vergiss mein nicht, ach treibe fern von mir
des bösen Feindes Tücke,
ingleichen das Gelücke,
das mich nur trennt von dir,
du meines Lebens Licht,
vergiss mein nicht, vergiss mein nicht.

Vergiss mein nicht,
vergiss mein nicht, mein allerhöchster Gott.
Vergib mir meine Sünden,
ach! lass mich Gnade finden,
so hat es keine Not,
wenn solche mich anficht,
vergiss mein nicht, vergiss mein nicht.

Vergiss mein nicht,
vergiss mein nicht, wenn mich die böse Welt
mit ihrer Bosheit plaget
und mir von schätzen saget,
die sie doch nicht behält.
Ich bin ihr nicht verpflicht’,
vergiss mein nicht, vergiss mein nicht.

Vergiss mein nicht,
vergiss mein nicht, wenn itzt der herbe Tod
mir nimmt mein zeitlich Leben,
du kannst ein besseres geben,
mein allerliebst Gott;
hör, wenn dein Kind noch spricht:
Vergiss mein nicht, vergiss mein nicht!

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Beethoven – Busslied

by: David - May 28th, 2008   Filed under: German, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Busslied

Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

Text: Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715-1769)

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An dir allein, an dir hab ich gesündigt,
Und übel oft vor dir getan.
Du siehst die Schuld, die mir den Fluch verkündigt;
Sieh, Gott, auch meinen Jammer an.

Dir ist mein Flehn, mein Seufzen nicht verborgen,
Und meine Tränen sind vor dir.
Ach Gott, mein Gott, wie lange soll ich sorgen?
Wie lang entfernst du dich von mir?

Herr, handle nicht mit mir nach meinen Sünden,
Vergilt mir nicht nach meiner Schuld.
Ich suche dich, laß mich dein Antlitz finden,
Du Gott der Langmut und Geduld.

Früh wollst du mich mit deiner Gnade füllen,
Gott, Vater der Barmherzigeit.
Erfreue mich um deines Namens willen,
Du bist mein Gott, der gern erfreut.

Laß deinen Weg mich wieder freudig wallen
Und lehre mich dein heilig Recht
Mich täglich tun nach deinem Wohlgefallen;
Du bist mein Gott, ich bin dein Knecht.

Herr, eile du, mein Schutz, mir beizustehen,
Und leite mich auf ebner Bahn.
Er hört mein Schrei’n, der Herr erhört mein Flehen
Und nimmt sich meiner Seele an.

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Purcell – Anacreon’s Defeat

by: David - May 27th, 2008   Filed under: English, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Anacreon’s Defeat (This poet sings the Trojan wars)

Composer: Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

Author: Unknown

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This poet sings the Trojan wars,
Another of the Theban jars,
In rattling numbers, verse that dares.

Whilst I, in soft and humble verse,
My own captivities rehearse;
I sing my own defeats, which are
Not the events of common war.

Not fleets at sea have vanquish’d me,
Nor brigadiers, nor cavalry,
Nor ranks and files of infantry.

No, Anacreon still defies
All your artillery companies
Save those encamp’d in killing eyes;
Each dart his mistress shoots, he dies.

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Burleigh (arr.) – Deep River

by: David - May 24th, 2008   Filed under: English, High, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Deep River

Music: Traditional spiritual, arranged by Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)

Text: Traditional

Sheet Music

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  • PDF: Deep River
    • Key: F Major
    • Range: C4 – A5
    • Source: Individual song, ©1917 G. Ricordi & Co.

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  • PDF available at the IN Harmony Sheet Music collection
    • Key: C Major
    • Range: G3 – E4

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Deep river, my home is over Jordan,
Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

Oh don’t you want to go to that gospel feast,
That promis’d land where all is peace?

Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

Resources

  • Duke’s Digital Collection has color scans of the original publication of Deep River

Burleigh – O Perfect Love

by: David - May 24th, 2008   Filed under: English, High, Low, Medium, Songs, Wedding Add Comment

Song Information

Title: O Perfect Love (Wedding Song)

Music: Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949)

Text: Dorothy Frances Blomfield (1858-1932)

Sheet Music

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  • PDF: O Perfect Love
    • Key: F Major
    • Range: B♭3 – D5 (F5)
    • note: this is a minimally edited transposition of the version below from Project Gutenberg.

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  • Transcribed at Project Gutenberg
    • Key: PDF file available in A♭ Major
    • Range: D4 – F5 (A♭5)
    • Finale .mus file available to edit or transpose

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  • Available at Project Gutenberg. (However, it is merely an audio recording of the midi file.)

MIDI:

Song Text

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou forevermore dost join in one.

O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance,
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears nor pain nor death.

Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife,
and to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow
that dawns upon eternal love and life.

Resources

  • Seiyaku.com has the story of the hymn text that served as the lyric for this song.

Smith – The Star-Spangled Banner

by: David - May 23rd, 2008   Filed under: English, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: The Star-Spangled Banner

Music: John Stafford Smith (1750-1836)

Text: Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)

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  • The “official” service version can be found at The National Anthem Project
    • Key: PDF available in A♭ Major
    • Range: A♭3 – E♭5
  • Transcribed at Project Gutenberg as part of The Good Old Songs We Used to Sing
    • Key: PDF available in C Major
    • Range: C4 – G5
    • Note: There are some differences between this version and the one now commonly sung.

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O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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Handel – Turn not, O Queen, thy face away

by: David - May 22nd, 2008   Filed under: English, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Turn not, O Queen, thy face away (Aria sung by Haman in Esther)

Music: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Text: Libretto by John Arbuthnot and Alexander Pope

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Turn not, O Queen, thy face away,
Behold me prostrate on the ground!
O speak, his growing fury stay,
Let mercy in thy sight be found!

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Handel – I rage, I melt, I burn (O ruddier than the cherry)

by: David - May 22nd, 2008   Filed under: English, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title:

  • Recit: I rage, I melt, I burn
  • Aria: O ruddier than the cherry
  • sung by Polyphemus (Bass) in Acis and Galatea

Music: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Text: libretto by John Gay, Alexander Pope, and John Hughes.

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Recit:
I rage, I rage, I melt, I burn! The feeble god has stabbed me to the heart. Thou trusty pine, prop of my god-like steps, I lay thee by! Bring me a hundred reeds of decent growth, to make a pipe for my capacious mouth; in soft enchanting accents let me breathe sweet Galatea’s beauty, and my love.

Aria:
O ruddier than the cherry,
O sweeter than the berry,
O nymph more bright than moonshine night,
Like kidlings blithe and merry!

Ripe as the melting cluster,
No lily has such lustre;
Yet hard to tame as raging flame,
And fierce as storms that bluster!

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Handel – Tu mia speranza

by: David - May 22nd, 2008   Filed under: English, Low, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Tu mia speranza (Aria sung by Dardano in Amadigi)

Music: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Text: Unclear. 1993 Viking Opera Guide says probably by Nicola Francesco Haym (1678-1729)

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Tu mia speranza, tu mio conforto,
Sei di quest’ alma l’amato ben.
Sarai mio ben.

La mia costanza è giunto in porto,
Ed ho la palma del tuo bel sen

Resources

  • Wikipedia has an entry for Amadigi

Debussy – Romance

by: David - May 20th, 2008   Filed under: French, High, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Romance

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Paul Bourget (1852-1935)

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L’âme évaporée et souffrante,
L’âme douce, l’âme odorante
Des lis divins que j’ai cueillis
Dans le jardin de ta pensée,
Où donc les vents l’ont-ils chassée,
Cette âme adorable des lis?
N’est-il plus un parfum qui reste
De la suavité céleste
Des jours ou tu m’enveloppais
D’une vapeur surnaturelle,
Faite d’espoir, d’amour fidèle,
De béatitude et de paix?

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Schubert – Nacht und Träume

by: David - May 12th, 2008   Filed under: German, High, Low, Medium, Songs 1 Comment

Song Information

Title: Nacht und Träume

Composer: Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Author: Matthäus von Collin (1779-1824)

Sheet Music

Free at Art Song Central (PDF files):

  • PDF file: Nacht und Träume
    • Key: B Major (original key)
    • Range: D♯4 – E5
    • Transcribed using PrintMusic 2006
  • PDF file: Nacht und Träume
    • Key: A Major
    • Range: C♯4 – D5
    • Transcribed using PrintMusic 2006

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Heil’ge Nacht, du sinkest nieder;
Nieder wallen auch die Träume
Wie dein Mondlicht durch die Räume,
Durch der Menschen stille Brust.
Die belauschen sie mit Lust;
Rufen, wenn der Tag erwacht:
Kehre wieder, heil’ge Nacht!
Holde Träume, kehret wieder!

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Wolf – Anakreons Grab

by: David - April 24th, 2008   Filed under: German, Low, Medium, Songs Add Comment

Song Information

Title: Anakreons Grab

Music: Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)

Text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

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Wo die Rose hier blüht,
wo Reben um Lorbeer sich schlingen,
Wo das Turtelchen lockt,
wo sich das Grillchen ergötzt,
Welch ein Grab ist hier,
das alle Götter mit Leben
Schön bepflanzt und geziert?
Es ist Anakreons Ruh.
Frühling, Sommer, und Herbst
genoß der glückliche Dichter;
Vor dem Winter hat ihn endlich
der Hügel geschützt.

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