BRITTEN: A Charm of Lullabies: 3. Sephestia's Lullaby

COMPOSER: Benjamin Britten
Alice Coote, mezzo-soprano
Graham Johnson, piano
2007 BBC Proms, First Night (July 16, 2007)

*** TEXT: Robert Greene (1558-1592) ***

Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee;
When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.

Mother's wag, pretty boy,
Father's sorrow, father's joy;
When thy father first did see
Such a boy by him and me,

He was glad, I was woe;
Fortune changed made him so,
When he left his pretty boy,
Last his sorrow, first his joy

Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee;
When thou art old there's grief enough for thee

The wanton smiled, father wept,
Mother cried, baby leapt;
More he crow'ed, more we cried,
Nature could not sorrow hide:

He must go, he must kiss
Child and mother, baby bliss,
For he left his pretty boy,
Father's sorrow, father's joy.

Weep not my wanton, smile upon my knee
When thou art old there's grief enough for thee.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• alice
• coote
• benjamin
• britten
• song
• cycle
• charm
• of
• lullabies
• bbc
• proms
• 2007
• mezzosoprano
• piano
• composer
• sephestia's
• lull

[fabulouskt148]

An absolutely beautiful rendition! I am learning this for my upcoming jury and this is a great point of reference for me! Thanks for putting it up.