Translations and Program Notes
Senior Recital
Converse College-Daniel Recital Hall
September 10, 2010 7:30 PM
Gwen Stembridge, Soprano
Mildred Roche, Piano
I am so thankful for your presence! I selected the pieces you will hear tonight with very particular purposes and in a unique way. I chose 90% of this music simply from reading the translated texts and being inspired through their words; some with laughter, some with tears, and some with smiles of contentment. These texts were chosen with purpose and because I must sing them in their original language, I don't want you to miss any of the rich messages that are available to us through music.
A note about singing in foreign languages: I think one of the things that separate a lot of people from the classical vocal music world is language. Music is a universal language, yes, but French is not. : ) I worry that vocal music in foreign languages loses many valuable audience members (particularly the younger generation) because of the language barrier. So, if you're here early, I encourage you to glance through the translations for the first half of the recital so that you are equipped to absorb the fullness of this beautifully-composed music.
Another purposeful aspect of this recital is the placement of pieces in sets, each representing a different aspect of topics I consider sacred. Humanity holds many things in this world sacred and it is usually because we cannot fully explain them. We attempt to explain and even recreate these hallowed moments through religion, the arts, and our own actions, though we know many of the mysteries are unsolvable. The Cycle of Creation, Romantic Love, The Divine, and Understanding of Purpose are the sacred topics I have chosen because I am boggled, amazed, and taught by these things on a daily basis. I hope you, too, will find moments of the sacred in this music through taps in your toes, joy in your smile, tugs at your heartstrings, and laughter in your belly!
The Divine
"God could be a technicolor squirrel!" I heard a student proclaim in a class called "Imagining the Divine" at a high school-aged theology camp. I believe Schumann shared this joy when he wrote his Myrthen, a set of 26 songs (to match a pearl necklace, so the story goes) as a wedding present to his wife in the form of 26 songs, each one expressing a different aspect of their faith and their love for each other.
Rätsel
Original English Text by Catherine Maria Fanshawe (1765-1834)
German Adaptation by Karl Friedrich Ludwig Kannegießer (1781-1861)
'Twas whispered in Heaven, 'twas muttered in hell, And echo caught faintly the sound as it fell; On the confines of earth 'twas permitted to rest, And in the depths of the ocean its presence confes'd; 'Twill be found in the sphere when 'tis riven asunder, Be seen in the lightning and heard in the thunder; 'Twas allotted to man with his earliest breath, Attends him at birth and awaits him at death, Presides o'er his happiness, honor and health, Is the prop of his house, and the end of his wealth. In the heaps of the miser 'tis hoarded with care, But is sure to be lost on his prodigal heir; It begins every hope, every wish it must bound, With the husbandman toils, and with monarchs is crowned; Without it the soldier and seaman may roam, But woe to the wretch who expels it from home! In the whispers of conscience its voice will be found, Nor e'er in the whirlwind of passion be drowned; 'Twill soften the heart; but though deaf be the ear, It will make him acutely and instantly hear. Set in shade, let it rest like a delicate flower; Ah! Breathe on it softly, it dies in an hour. What is it? It is a__!
Es flüstert's der Himmel, es murrt es die Hölle, Nur schwach klingt's nach in des Echos Welle, Und kommt es zur Fluth, so wird es stumm, Auf den Höhn, da hörst du sein zwiefach Gesumm. Das Schlachtengewühl liebt's, fliehet den Frieden, Es ist nicht Männern noch Frauen beschieden, Doch jeglichem Thier, nur mußt du's sezieren, Nicht ist's in der Poesie zu erspüren, Die Wissenschaft hat es, vor allem sie, Die Gottesgelahrtheit und Philosophie. Bei den Helden führt es den Vorsitz immer, Doch mangelt's den Schwachen auch innerlich nimmer, Es findet sich richtig in jedem Haus, Denn ließe man's fehlen, so wär es aus. In Griechenland klein, an des Thiber Borden. Ist's größer, am größten in Deutschland geworden. Im Schatten birgt's sich, im Blümchen auch. Du hauchst es täglich, es ist nur ein...was ist's? Es ist nur ein__!
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6:06
Thomas Quasthoff - Schumann - Der Arme Peterby lionelpower76,605 views
first flaming :D hallo bitch
razerox 1 year ago