Paisiello – Nel cor più non mi sento

Filed under: Italian, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: Nel cor più non mi sento

Music: Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816)

Text: Giuseppe Palomba (before 1765 – after 1825) (link to Italian Wikipedia)

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Song Text

Nel cor più non mi sento
Brillar la gioventù;
Cagion del mio tormento,
Amor, sei colpa tu.
Mi pizzichi, mi stuzzichi,
Mi pungichi, mi mastichi;
Che cosa è
Questo ahimè?
Pietà, pietà, pietà!
Amore è un certo che,
Che disperar mi fa.

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Note: Art Song Central uses the Unicode symbols for sharps (♯) and flats (♭) in these song posts. If you are not able to see these, consider installing a more universal Unicode font on your computer.

Carpenter – Light, My Light

Filed under: English, High, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: Light, My Light from Gitanjali

Music: John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)

Text: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

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Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven’s river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.

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Carpenter – On the Seashore of Endless Worlds

Filed under: English, High, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: On the Seashore of Endless Worlds from Gitanjali

Music: John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)

Text: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

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On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. The infinite sky is motionless overhead and the restless water is boisterous. On the seashore of endless worlds the children meet with shouts and dances.

They build their houses with sand and they play with empty shells. With withered leaves they weave their boats and smilingly float them on the vast deep. Children have their play on the seashore of worlds.

They know not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets. Pearl fishers dive for pearls, merchants sail in their ships, while children gather pebbles and scatter them again. They seek not for hidden treasures, they know not how to cast nets.

The sea surges up with laughter, and pale gleams the smile of the sea-beach. Death-dealing waves sing meaningless ballads to the children, even like a mother while rocking her baby’s cradle. The sea play with children, and pale gleams the smile of the sea-beach.

On the seashore of endless worlds children meet. Tempest roams in the pathless sky, ships get wrecked in the trackless water, death is abroad and children play. On the seashore of endless worlds is the great meeting of children.

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Carpenter – I am like a Remnant of a Cloud of Autumn

Filed under: English, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: I am like a Remnant of a Cloud of Autumn from Gitanjali

Music: John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)

Text: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

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I am like a remnant of a cloud of autumn uselessly roaming in the sky, O my sun ever-glorious! Thy touch has not yet melted my vapour, making me one with thy light, and thus I count months and years separated from thee.

If this be thy wish and if this be thy play, then take this fleeting emptiness of mine, paint it with colours, gild it with gold, float it on the wanton wind and spread it in varied wonders.

And again, when it shall be thy wish to end this play at night, I shall melt and vanish away in the dark, or it may be in a smile of the white morning, in a coolness of purity transparent.

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Carpenter – On the day when death will knock at thy door

Filed under: English, High, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: On the day when death will knock at thy door from Gitanjali

Music: John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)

Text: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

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On the day when death will knock at thy door, what wilt thou offer to him?

Oh, I will set before my guest the full vessel of my life; I will never let him go with empty hands.

All the sweet vintage of all my autumn days and summer nights, all the earnings and gleanings of my busy life, will I place before him at the close of my days when death will knock at my door.

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Carpenter – When I bring to you colour’d toys

Filed under: English, High, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: When I bring to you colour’d toys from Gitanjali

Music: John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)

Text: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

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When I bring to you colour’d toys, my child, I understand why there is such a play of colours on clouds, on water, and why flow’rs are painted in tints–when I give colour’d toys to you, my child.

When I sing to make you dance, I truly know why there is music in leaves, and why waves send their chorus of voices to the heart of the listening earth–when I sing to make you dance.

When I bring sweet things to your greedy hands, I know why there is honey in the cup of the flower and why fruits are secretly filled with sweet juice–when I bring sweet things to your greedy hands.

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Gitanjali

Filed under: ASC Sources

This is one of a series of posts about books used as source material for Art Song Central.

Collection Title: Gitanjali (Song-offerings)
Music: John Alden Carpenter (1876-1951)
Text: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
Copyright: 1914 by G. Schirmer

Contents:

  1. When I bring to you colour’d toys
  2. On the day when death will knock at thy door
  3. The Sleep that flits on Baby’s Eyes
  4. I am like a Remnant of a Cloud of Autumn
  5. On the Seashore of Endless Worlds
  6. Light, My Light

Notes:
The original sheet music had a decorative border around the music which has been removed for presentation here. They can be seen in a complete version available at Google Books.

Each poem was printed separately before its setting. Additionally, there were two poems in the published sheet music that were not set to music; one at the beginning, and one at the end. They are presented here in order:

CREDO

I believe in the deep blue sky and the smiling water.

I can see through the clouds of the sky and I am not afraid of the waves of the sea.

I believe in the living friendship given by flowers and trees;–outwardly they die, but in the heart they live forever.

Little paths through green woods I love, and the sound of leaves on the ground, or of a nut falling, or even of a breaking twig.

I believe that the days to come already feel the wonder of the days that have passed, and will permit that wonder to endure and increase.

I believe in and love my belief in, and my love for, all of these things; and most of all I believe in and love The Source of my belief and of my love.

13.

The song that I came to sing remains unsung to this day. I have spent my days in stringing and unstringing my instrument.

The time has not come true, the words have not been rightly set; only there is the agony of wishing in my heart.

Foster – Slumber My Darling

Filed under: English, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: Slumber My Darling

Music: Stephen Foster (1826-1864)

Text: Stephen Foster (1826-1864)

Sheet Music

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  • Transcribed at Mutopia: Slumber My Darling
    • Key: PDF available in E♭ Major
    • Range: E♭4 – E♭5
    • Lilypond source file also available to edit or transpose.

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Slumber, my darling, thy mother is near,
Guarding thy dreams from all terror and fear,
Sunlight has pass’d and the twilight has gone,
Slumber, my darling, the night’s coming on.

Sweet visions attend thy sleep,
Fondest, dearest to me,
While others their revels keep,
I will watch over thee.

Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flow’rs are caressed,
Slumber, my darling, I’ll wrap thee up warm,
And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm.

Slumber, my darling, till morn’s blushing ray
Brings to the world the glad tidings of day;
Fill the dark void with thy dreamy delight–
Slumber, thy mother will guard thee tonight,

Thy pillow shall sacred be
From all outward alarms;
Thou, thou are the world to me
In thine innocent charms.

Slumber, my darling, the birds are at rest,
The wandering dews by the flow’rs are caressed,
Slumber, my darling, I’ll wrap thee up warm,
And pray that the angels will shield thee from harm.

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New Navigation and Site Resources

Filed under: news

Growth of the site has been slow for the last month, but we’re now up to about 110 song posts, and there’s been a lot of work behind the scenes. (Many new songs have been scanned!)

However, I’ve recently added some new resources and added some aids to navigate the site better.

  • The “Pages” section has been remodeled as “Site Navigation.”
  • There is now a link there to view site news, and site news will now be regularly updated.
  • The link to the “Song Index” has been replaced with a link to an index of indices called “Songs and Sources.”
  • Multiple indices have been added to view only songs in a given language or for a given range.
  • An “Expert’s Picks” section has been added, though it only contains two posts so far. More should follow — I’ve solicited lists from a number of colleagues. As the collection grows, these will become vital as a gateway into certain types of repertoire, especially for vocal music newbies.
  • Several other resources are under development, and will be announced when they are added to the site.

For the record, one of the reasons for the slow pace of additional song posts is that I’ve only wanted to add material that is truly useful and popular. There is no “dead wood” in this collection. I’ve also been trying to keep the collection somewhat balanced. (ie: I’d rather add some spirituals before I add more Schubert.)

However, listing the song posts by language makes it easier to see some of the other gaps in the collection. I’ll be looking to add more Spanish material, and diversify the composers represented in all languages a bit more.

Adding song posts is the most time consuming part of this process, and I would be delighted to have help in researching and writing more of them… Please let me know if you’re willing to help in this area! (This should be especially easy for songs which can be found in IMSLP, though I’m not interested in referencing material there that is of low quality, such as the scans from the IU Variations Project.)

Thanks,

David

Debussy – Mandoline

Filed under: French, High, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: Mandoline

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Paul Verlaine (1844-1896)

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Les donneurs de sérénades
Et les belles écouteuses
Echangent des propos fades
Sous les ramures chanteuses.

C’est Tircis et c’est Aminte,
Et c’est l’éternel Clitandre,
Et c’est Damis qui pour mainte
Cruelle fait maint vers tendre.

Leurs courtes vestes de soie,
Leurs longues robes à queues,
Leur élégance, leur joie
Et leurs molles ombres bleues,

Tourbillonent dans l’extase
D’une lune rose et grise,
Et la mandoline jase
Parmi les frissons de brise.

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de Falla – Polo

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: Polo (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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¡Ay!
Guardo una, ¡Ay!
Guardo una, ¡Ay!
¡Guardo una pena en mi pecho,
¡Guardo una pena en mi pecho,
¡Ay!
Que a nadie se la diré!

Malhaya el amor, malhaya,
Malhaya el amor, malhaya,
¡Ay!
¡Y quien me lo dió a entender!
¡Ay!

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de Falla – Canción

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: Canción (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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Por traidores, tus ojos, voy a enterrarlos;
No sabes lo que cuesta,
“Del aire”
Niña, el mirarlos.
“Madre a la orilla”
Niña el mirarlos.
“Madre”

Dicen que no me quieres,
Y a me has querido…
Váyase lo ganado,
“Del aire”
Por lo perdido,
“Madre a la orilla”
Por lo perdido,
“Madre”

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de Falla – Nana

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: Nana (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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Duérmete, niño, duerme,
Duerme, mi alma,
Duérmete, lucerito
De la mañana.
Naninta, nana,
Naninta, nana.
Duérmete, lucerito
De la mañana.

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de Falla – Jota

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: Jota (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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Dicen que no nos queremos
Porque no nos ven hablar;
A tu corazón y al mio
Se lo pueden preguntar.

Ya me despido de tí,
De tu casa y tu ventana,
Y aunque no quiera tu madre,
Adiós, niña, hasta mañana.
Aunque no quiera tu madre…

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de Falla – Asturiana

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: Asturiana (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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Por ver si me consolaba,
Arrime a un pino verde,
Por ver si me consolaba.

Por verme llorar, lloraba.
Y el pino como era verde,
Por verme llorar, lloraba.

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de Falla – Seguidilla Murciana

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: Seguidilla Murciana (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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Cualquiera que el tejado
Tenga de vidrio,
No debe tirar piedras
Al del vecino.
Arrieros semos;
¡Puede que en el camino
Nos encontremos!

Por tu mucha inconstancia
Yo te comparo
Con peseta que corre
De mano en mano;
Que al fin se borra,
Y créyendola falsa
¡Nadie la toma!

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Siete Canciones popolares Españolas

Filed under: ASC Sources

This is one of a series of posts about books used as source material for Art Song Central.

Collection Title: Siete Canciones popolares Españolas
Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
Copyright: this edition was ©1922 Associated Music Publishers

Contents:

  1. El Paño Moruno
  2. Seguidilla Murciana
  3. Asturiana
  4. Jota
  5. Nana
  6. Canción
  7. Polo

Notes:
This is a low voice edition.

de Falla – El Paño Moruno

Filed under: Low, Medium, Songs, Spanish

Song Information

Title: El Paño Moruno (from Siete Canciones popolares Españolas)

Music: Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

Text: Traditional

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Al paño fino, en la tienda,
una mancha le cayó;
Por menos precio se vende,
Porque perdió su valor.
¡Ay!

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Fauré – Soir

Filed under: French, High, Medium, Songs

Song Information

Title: Soir

Music: Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)

Text: Albert Samain (1858-1900)

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Voici que les jardins de la nuit vont fleurir.
Les lignes, les couleurs, les sons deviennent vagues;
Vois! le dernier rayon agonise à tes bagues,
Ma soeur, entends-tu pas quelque chose mourir?

Mets sur mon front tes mains fraîches comme une eau pure,
Mets sur mes yeux tes mains douces comme des fleurs,
Et que mon âme où vit le goût secret des pleurs.
Soit comme un lys fidèle et pâle à ta ceinture!

C’est la pitié qui pose ainsi son doigt sur nous,
Et tout ce que la terre a de soupirs qui montent,
Il semble, qu’à mon coeur enivré, le racontent
Tes yeux levés au ciel, si tristes et si doux!

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Debussy – Beau Soir

Filed under: French, High, IPA, Low, Medium

Song Information

Title: Beau Soir

Music: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Text: Paul Bourget (1852-1935)

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Text:

Lorsque au soleil couchant les rivières sont roses,
Et qu’un tiède frisson court sur les champs de blé,
Un conseil d’être heureux semble sortir des choses
Et monter vers le cœur troublé;

Un conseil de goûter le charme d’être au monde,
Cepandant qu’on est jeune et que le soir est beau,
Car nous nous en allons, comme s’en va cette onde:
Elle à la mer, nous au tombeau.

IPA Transcription:

IPA for Beau Soir, courtesy of IPANow! transcription software.

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