Music Comments:
A parody of Schumann's "Du bist wie eine Blume" matches perfectly with the poem's humorously atrocious Heine translation; as the narrator then discusses herself the music turns jazzy then bluesy. See the bottom of the page below for RealAudio recordings of every song in the cycle.
http://www.lights.com/~scott/90th/sarah1.ram
Text Comments:
(Sarah Binks, a fictional character, is the supposed author or this poem. The character and her poems lightly and gently satirize the "academic" mind and approach to life...as well as many other things, I'm sure) "You are like one flower, so swell, so good and clean, I look you on and longing Slinks me the heart between..." I'm a genius, I'm a genius What more can I desire? I toot upon my little flute And twang upon my lyre. I dabble in oil paint, in cinnebar and ochre, At night I get dissipated And play poker. In my little book, in my little book, I write verses Sometimes they don't rhyme--curses! "Me is as if the hands I on head your put them should, Praying that God you preserve, So swell, so clean, and good."
http://library.usask.ca/90th/1940/1947.html
This entry contributed by G&K around 10/31/99. The contributor(s) looked over the song.
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Song 3 (extractable) from set Mourning Songs
Music:
by Scearce, J. Mark
(American , 1960 - )
premiered by Mark Bowman Hester, tenor
in a 20th Century Classical style
Text:
by Scearce, Michael J.
in English
from a gender-neutral perspective This entry contributed by G&K around 4/10/99
Editions: treble clef, D4 - A5 (original key), medium high tessitura, 1 voice and 1 piano [GET IT! ] Know this song? Add your review !
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Music Comments:
lyrical vocal line. Some conflicting meters between voice and piano that nevertheless "add up" to coordination between the two parts. frequent meter changes, most of which don't seem too difficult. Ends a capella.
Text Comments:
The river used to curve south there, you know. Bot that was years and years ago, Before the Emits moved and left their house. Down by that dried-up bed we'd hunt for grouse. They were as curious as an old cat. (We'd call them "fool hens", at that.) We never had the heart to shoot at all. Yet it's been years since I last heard them call.
This entry contributed by G&K around 4/10/99. The contributor(s) looked over the song.
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6 (not extractable) from set Love Songs
Audio clip needs 28.8K connection or better and RealPlayer G2 )
Music:
by Hagen, Daron
(American , 1961 - )
premiered by Carol Chickering, soprano
in a 20th Century Classical style
Text:
by Dunei, Ze'ev
(Israeli )
in English
from a gender-neutral perspective This entry contributed by ECS Publishing around 12/21/98
Editions: treble clef, F#4 - F#5 (original key), medium high tessitura, 1 voice and 1 piano [GET IT! ] Know this song? Add your review !
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Music Comments:
Andante. Russell Platt points out a "generously sensual word setting." bitonal, he also points out, frequently opposing E and Bb M. The music is quite lyrical, especially the beautiful climax on "sweet music."
Text Comments:
Full text: I remember a day, far, far away, in a city kissed by the waves of the sea. I can see your body in the afternoon light, when the sun came through the shutter cracks. I still smell the fresh coffee on the balcony overlooking the beach. I hear the sweet music escorting the day, when it came to its last beat.
See Songs by Daron Hagen (Recordings)
This entry contributed by G&K around 12/21/98. The contributor(s) looked over the song.
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Song 2 (not extractable) from set Mourning Songs
Music:
by Scearce, J. Mark
(American , 1960 - )
premiered by Mark Bowman Hester, tenor
in a 20th Century Classical style
Text:
by Scearce, Michael J.
in English
from a gender-neutral perspective This entry contributed by anonymous around 4/8/99
Editions: treble clef, D4 - A5 (original key), high tessitura, 1 voice and 1 piano [GET IT! ] Know this song? Add your review !
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Music Comments:
Somewhat dissonant; quarter = 60. Complex rhythmically and harmonically but relatively transparent texture. 1:25
Text Comments:
I went back the other day To the oak beside the lake, Where we used to laugh and play. I remember when we'd take Green apples from Old Riley's tree, You'd say they were too good to bake. Now, through the years, I still can see The fun we had when we were young, The happiness you brought to me. A loss, a life, a fallen tree.
This entry contributed by anonymous around 4/8/99. The contributor(s) looked over the song.
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Song 2 (extractable) from set Enough Rope
Music:
by Musto, John
(American )
in a 20th Century Classical style
Text:
by Parker, Dorothy
(American , 1893 - 1988)
in English
from a gender-neutral perspective This entry contributed by G&K around 5/16/99
Editions: treble clef, A3 - A5 (original key), medium high tessitura, 1 voice and 1 piano [GET IT! ] Know this song? Add your review !
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Music Comments:
Marked "Slowly, with a blues feel". Short one page song. Low and high range extremes are sustained.
Text Comments:
Razors pain you; Rivers are damp; Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live.
This entry contributed by G&K around 5/16/99. The contributor(s) looked over the song.
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4 (extractable) from set Return to a Place
Audio clip needs 28.8K connection or better and RealPlayer G2 )
Music:
by Vores, Andy
(Welsh , 1956 - )
premiered by Sanford Sylvan, baritone
in a 20th Century Classical style
Text:
by Simic, Charles
(Yugoslavian , 1938 - )
in English
from a gender-neutral perspective This entry contributed by Andy Vores around 11/22/98
Editions: bass clef, C#3 - E4 (original key), medium tessitura, 1 voice and 1 piano [GET IT! ] Know this song? Add your review !
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Music Comments:
Duration 1:20
Elliptical text, regular eighth-note accompaniment.
Text Comments:
Late at night our hands stop working.
They lie open with tracks of animals
Journeying across the fresh snow.
They need no one. Solitude surrounds them.
As they come closer, as they touch,
It is like two small streams
Which upon entering a wide river
Feel the pull of the distant sea.
The sea is a room far back in time
Lit by the headlights of a passing car.
A glass of milk glows on the table.
Only you can reach it for me now.
This entry contributed by Andy Vores around 11/22/98. The contributor(s) composed the song.
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