First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest
instrumentation: saxophone (alto)|marimba
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")
Place in the larger work: The second song of five in the song cycle called "A Christina Rossetti Folio," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "A Wintry Sonnet"; 2. "When I am Dead"; 3. "I Wish"; 4. "Somewhere or Other"; 5. "No, Thank You, John."
Tempo markings: "Adagio"; quarter note = 60
Performance history: Premiered November 1999 at the Riddell Theatre in Regina, Saskatchewan, with Lynn Channing, soprano, Karen Finnsson, sax, Bruce Brander, marimba.
Dedication: "for Lynn Channing, Karen Finnsson and Bruce Brander"
Schudel, Thomas; music (Canadian, born in the United States, 1937)
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)
Other data reference(s): "A Christina Rossetti Folio." Canadian Music Centre, https://www.musiccentre.ca/node/21063. Accessed 31 August 2019.
Cataloguer: Van A. Mantha-Ware, University of Ottawa
musical score: Canadian Music Centre, https://www.musiccentre.ca/node/21063.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "A Christina Rossetti Folio." Canadian Music Centre, https://www.musiccentre.ca/node/21063. Accessed 31 August 2019.
The Christina Rossetti in Music project website is hosted in Canada at the University of Ottawa Library, and we aim to comply with Canadian copyright laws. If you believe we have violated Canadian copyright law, please contact us at christinarossettimusic@uottawa.ca. The Christina Rossetti in Music project is strictly not for profit and intended for research and educational purposes only.
3 pages (pp. 6-8); complete song cycle performance time 11 minutes
"And if thou wilt, remember" [W.H.J. Graham]
Dedication: "To Miss May Callender, New York."
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM22
Reference: Ives, Maura. Christina Rossetti: A Descriptive Bibliography. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2011.
Cataloguer: Claudia Laugalys, University of Ottawa
musical score: Dwight Anderson Memorial Music Library, University of Louisville, Louisville.
Place in the larger work: The second song of three in the song cycle called "Three Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "The First Spring Day"; 2. "When I Am Dead"; 3. "A Birthday".
Notes: Also published by Novello, Ewer & Co., in Mackenzie's song collection "Eighteen Songs," book three (of three), which includes two song cycles (opus 17 and 16): 1. "The first spring day" (Christina Rossetti); 2. "When I am dead" (Christina Rossetti); 3. "A Birthday" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Up with the sail" (J. Logie Robertson); 5. "O roaming wind" (J. Logie Robertson); 6. "Something sad" (J. Logie Robertson).
Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell, Sir; music (Scottish, 1847-1935)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4771; Ives DM34
Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.
Reference: Ezust, Emily. The LiederNet Archive. http://www.lieder.net/lieder/index.html
Other data reference(s): Record for “Three songs, op. 17.” WorldCat, https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/646695297. Accessed 19 Oct. 2018.
Cataloguer: Abbey Jurgeneit and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
music score: Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell. Eighteen Songs. Op. 17 and 31 [etc.], London: Novello and Company, n.d., pp. 61-76. Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
London and New York: Novello, Ewer & Co.
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-mackenzie.pdf
"When I am dead, my dearest" [Richard H. Walthew]
Walthew, Richard H.; music (English, 1872-1951)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM156
Cataloguer: Stephanie Malette, University of Ottawa
musical score: Stellenbosch University Music Library, Stellenbosch.
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-walthew.pdf
"When I am dead, my dearest" [Oscar Rasbach]
Rasbach, Oscar; music (American, 1888-1975)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4780
musical score: Rasbach, Oscar. "When I am dead, my dearest." Five Songs for Voice and Piano, New York, G. Schirmer, 1941. California State University Stanislaus Library, Turlock.
"Copyright, 1941, by G. Schirmer, Inc. International Copyright Secured"
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-rasbach-nopub.pdf
"When I Am Dead My Dearest" [Helen Pyke]
First line of lyrics: When I am dead my dearest
Pyke, Helen [Lucas]; music (English, 1905-1954)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4778
musical score: Extramural Library, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
"Copyright MCMXLVIII by Elkin & Co. Ltd."
"When I am dead my dearest" [Joel Weiss]
Composition history: Composer Joel Weiss noted that his setting "was written for a 9/11 memorial concert" (private correspondence 22 Jan 2017).
Weiss, Joel; music (American, born 1970)
Other data reference(s): Weiss, Joel. "Re: Joel Weiss, composer." Received by Mary Arseneau. 22 Jan. 2017.
Cataloguer: Mary Arseneau, University of Ottawa
musical score: score provided compliments of composer Joel Weiss.
This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears on this website by kind permission of composer Joel Weiss.
First line of lyrics: She sat and sang alway
Part of: "3 Sad Songs of Christina Rossetti"
initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("She sat and sang alway")
Place in the larger work: The first song of three in the song cycle called "3 Sad Songs of Christina Rossetti," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song (She sat and sang alway)"; 2. "Song (Two doves upon the selfsame branch)"; 3. "Song (When I am dead, my dearest)."
Performance history: A performance featuring Anita Kazem (soprano), Jonathan Hennessy-Brown (cello), and Sheila Blow (piano) was published by the composer on January 3, 2017 on YouTube. View it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHQgrjqmi4Y&index=4&list=PLBxkpLYEuA5N2vMPHgB3emEcq2TIj6-UI.
St.Johanser, Joe; music (British, born 1941)
musical score: score provided compliments of composer Joe St.Johanser.composer Joe St.Johanser
"Copyright © Robosoft Music 2007. All rights reserved." The score appears on this website by kind permission of the composer, Joe. St.Johanser.
"Gerdenken und Vergessen: Lied: und wenn ich tot bin" [Paul Zoll]
von der Vring, Georg; translation (German, 1889-1968)
Other data reference(s): Record for "Zoll, Paul: Gedenken und Vergessen." DNB Deutsche National Bibliotek https://portal.dnb.de/opac.htm?method=showFullRecord&currentResultId=%22rossetti%2C%22+and+%22christina%22%26dnb.dma&currentPosition=8. Accessed 8 February 2020.
"When I am Dead, my Dearest" [Blanche Goode]
Tempo markings: "Not too slowly, (with deep feeling)"
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4757
musical score: New York Public Library, New York
"Copyright, 1917, by J. Fischer & Bro. British Copyright Secured"
"Sterbelied" "Sterbelied / When I Am Dead, My Dearest" [Erich Wolfgang Korngold]
First line of lyrics: Lass Liebster wenn idh tot bin / When I am dead, my dearest
Part of: "Leider des Abschieds" / "Songs of Farewell"
Place in the larger work: The first song of four in the song cycle called "Lieder des Abschieds," which includes 1. "Sterbelied" (When I am dead, my dearest) [Rossetti-Kerr]; 2. "Dies eine kann mein Schnen nimmer fassen" (Despairing) [Edith Ronsperger]; 3. "Mond, so gehst du wieder auf" (Moon thou risest again) [Ernst Lothar]; 4. "Gefasster Abschied" (Do not weep) [Ernst Lothar].
Notes about the text: The 1942 republication of the setting provides both German and English text: "The original English poem has been slightly adapted to coincide with the rhythms of the German translation, to which the music was written." One might surmise that, during World War II, national hostilities may have led the publisher to provide an English text for Korngold's setting on the assumption that it would render the setting more acceptable to English-speaking audiences.
Tempo markings: "Sehr ruhig und gefast" (German); "mit verhaltener tiefer Empfindung / Very quiet and composed, with deep but restrained emotion." (English/German)
Performance instructions: For piano: "nur die Melodienote hervorheben!" The English version translates: "(Bring out the melody notes only)."
Performance history: Premiered in 1921 with Maria Olczewska. Hungarian mezzo Rosette Anday sang the first Vienna performance of the "Lieder des Anschieds" in their orchestral version. (Carroll)
Recordings: "Sterbelied." Performance by Hungarian mezzo Rosette Anday and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, piano, 1924. YouTube, uploaded by Brendan Carroll, https://youtu.be/N5DKPOSrrIg. Accessed 3 Nov. 2021
Korngold, Erich Wolfgang; music (American, born in Austria, 1897-1957)
Kerr, Alfred; translated text (German, born Alfred Kempner, 1867-1948)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4767
Other data reference(s): Carroll, Brendan. Notes. "Rosette Anday sings Korngold's Sterbelied Opus 14 [1924]." YouTube, https://youtu.be/N5DKPOSrrIg. Accessed 3 Nov. 2021.
Cataloguer: Mary Arseneau, Stephanie Malette, Emily McConkey, Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
musical score in German: Central Library, Bucherhallen Hamburg
musical score in German and English: Minnesota State University Library, Mankato
Mainz, London, Madrid, New York, Paris, Prag, Tokyo, Toronto: Schott Musik International [German]; New York: Associated Music Publishers, Inc.; London: Schott & Co. Ltd. [English/German]
1921 [composition] [copyright]; 1949 [copyright renewed]; 1942 [copyright English/German]
"© 1921 Schott Musik International, Mainz | © nenewed 1949 Schott & Co. Ltd., London" (German); "Copyright 1921 by B. Schott's Söhne, Mainz | Copyright assigned to Associated Music Publishers, Inc. | English version copyright 1942 by Associated Music Publishers, Inc." (German/English)
5 pages (pp. 5-9) (German); 5 pages (pp. 3-7) (English/German)
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-korngold-ger.pdf; CRM-songwheniamdead-korngold-ger-en.pdf
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of five in the song cycle called "Evening Music," which includes 1. "Evening Music" (May Sarton); 2. "Since the Majority of Me" (Philip Larkin); 3. "Symptom Recital" (Dorothy Parker); 4. "I Loved You First" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "Fall of the Evening Star" (Kenneth Patchen).
Martinson, Joel; music (American, born 1960)
Other data reference(s): "Compositions." Joelmartinson.com, https://www.joelmartinson.com/compositions/. 7 February 2020.
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
Rossetti poem(s): "'Tune me, O Lord, into one harmony'"
Other data reference(s): "Compositions: All." Joelmartinson.com, http://www.joelmartinson.com/compositions/. Accessed 7 February 2020.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Tune me, O Lord (Vocal score) SATB unaccompanied." Boosey & Hawkes, https://www.boosey.com/shop/prod/Martinson-Joel-Tune-me-O-Lord-Vocal-score-SATB-u%20naccompanied/1002886. Accessed 7 February 2020.
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of six in the song cycle called "Bitter for Sweet," settings of Christina Rossetti, which includes 1. "Sound Sleep"; 2. "Wrestling"; 3. Bitter for Sweet"; 4. "Song"; 5. "Holy Innocents"; 6. "By the Waters of Babylon."
Tempo markings: "Andante" (quarter note = 69)
Sargon, Simon A.; music (American, born in India, 1938)
"© Copyright 2000 by Simon A. Sargon Dallas, Texas 75201 All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A."
First line of lyrics: Sleep, sleep, little Baby sleep
Rossetti poem(s): "Holy Innocents" ("Sleep, little Baby, sleep")
Tempo markings: "Tenderly"; dotted quarter note = 112
First line of lyrics: Some are laughing, some are weeping
Tempo markings: "Moderately"; quarter note = 72
Place in the larger work: The second song of six in the song cycle called "Bitter for Sweet," settings of Christina Rossetti, which includes 1. "Sound Sleep"; 2. "Wrestling"; 3. Bitter for Sweet"; 4. "Song"; 5. "Holy Innocents"; 6. "By the Waters of Babylon."
Tempo markings: "With Restless Agitation"; quarter note = 88
First line of lyrics: Summer is gone with all its roses
Place in the larger work: The third song of six in the song cycle called "Bitter for Sweet," settings of Christina Rossetti, which includes 1. "Sound Sleep"; 2. "Wrestling"; 3. Bitter for Sweet"; 4. "Song"; 5. "Holy Innocents"; 6. "By the Waters of Babylon."
"By the Waters of Babylon" [Simon A. Sargon]
First line of lyrics: By the waters of Babylon
Rossetti poem(s): "'By the waters of Babylon'"
Place in the larger work: The sixth song of six in the song cycle called "Bitter for Sweet," settings of Christina Rossetti, which includes 1. "Sound Sleep"; 2. "Wrestling"; 3. Bitter for Sweet"; 4. "Song"; 5. "Holy Innocents"; 6. "By the Waters of Babylon."
Tempo markings: "Sadly, mournfully"; quarter note = 54
title unknown [setting of "Up-hill"] [unknown composer]
Composition history: Christina Rossetti wrote the following letter (dated, approximately 1864) to an unidentified recipient: "My dear Madam | I cannot forbear once more writing to say that having by this time tried your setting of Uphill it pleases me very much. I am quite ignorant in music, so you must pardon my only being able to say that it pleases me. Mamma and my sister share my pleasure. How well your treatment disguises the ruggedness of my metre. I hope you will think with me that as day long interferes with the rhyme, it affords a clue to the correct reading: but indeed words are usually so merely accessory to air, that very likely not one singer in a hundred will even suspect an error. Any other little alteration had escaped my notice altogether, so I can readily believe that it eluded yours, to whom both lines and music are familiar. | With sincere thanks, | Yours faithfully, | Christina G. Rossetti" (Rossetti 206A)
Other data reference(s): Rossetti, Christina. "Letter 206A, Christina Rossetti to Recipient Unknown, 1864." The Letters of Christina Rossetti: a digital edition. Edited by Antony H. Harrison, University Press of Virginia, http://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/crossetti/display.xqy?letter=L206A. Accessed 22 March 2018.
Cataloguer: Sarah Pennington, University of Ottawa
"Love Came Down at Christmas" [John Carter]
First line of lyrics: Love came down at Christmas
genre: Christmas music|choral music|sacred music|song
Tempo markings: "Quietly, but with intensity"
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Love Came Down At Christmas." Sheet Music Plus, https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/love-came-down-at-christmas-sheet-music/485642. Accessed 4 February 2020.
"© 1986 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, Illinois."
First line of lyrics: Sound the deep waters
Tempo markings: "Andante molto tranquillo"
Dedication: "For the Treorchy Male Choir"
Williams, Grace; music (Welsh, 1906-1977)
Other data reference(s): "Grace Williams (1906-77)." Discover Welsh Music, http://discoverwelshmusic.com/composers/grace-williams/. Accessed 4 February 2020. Record for "Series E10. - 'Sleep at sea' (words, Christina Rossetti), for male voice choir and piano." The National Library of Wales, https://archives.library.wales/index.php/sleep-at-sea-words-christina-rossetti-for-male-voice-choir-and-piano. Accessed 4 February 2020.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Sleep at Sea." Oriana Publications, https://www.orianapublications.co.uk/product-page/grace-williams-sleep-at-sea. Accessed 4 February 2020.
"© Oriana Publications Limited 2019 / © Cwmni Cyhoeddi Oriana 2019. All Rights Reserved / Cedwir Pob Hawl"
First line of lyrics: Am I stone and not a sheep
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of six in the song cycle called "Cycle of Light," which includes 1. "Cycle of Light" (Delores Dufner); 2. "Shadows and Brightness" (Susan Palo Cherwien); 3. "A Christmas Carol: In the Bleak Mid-Winter" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Good Friday" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "Morning Has Broken" (Eleanor Farjeon); 6. "Children of the Heavenly Father" (Caroline V. Sandell Berg, trans. Ernst William Olson).
Composition history: "The idea for this compilation came from Norma Aamodt-Nelson, a musician friend who was living in Minnesota in the mid-1990s. [...] Christina Rossetti is my favorite poet from the past, as attested by my four published anthems on her poems in Oxford's catalogue. The juxtaposition of two texts centered around the Christian's response of the heart-the beloved "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" with the poignant and introspective "Good Friday" -provides the cycle's turningpoint from Epiphany to Lent." The third page of the song cycle includes information from the composer on the history of the composition.
Tempo markings: "Slow"; quarter note = 52
Performance instructions: "Cycle of Light is a collection of six sacred songs for the liturgical year based on texts by women, suitable for use separately in worship services or as a complete cycle in recitals."
Other data reference(s): "Compositions." Joel Martinson Compositions, https://www.joelmartinson.com/compositions/. 27 June 2019. Record for "Cycle of light : six sacred songs on texts by women poets for medium-low voice and piano /." University of Toronto Libraries, http://go.utlib.ca/cat/8378712. Accessed 22 July 2019.
musical score: University of Toronto Library at Downsview, Toronto
"Copyright © 2003, Oxford University Press, Inc."
3 pages (pp. 12-14); performance time 2 minutes and 45 seconds
"A Christmas Carol: In the Bleak Mid-Winter" [Joel Martinson]
First line of lyrics: In the bleak mid-winter
genre: carol|Christmas music|sacred music|song|song cycle
Rossetti poem(s): "A Christmas Carol" ("In the bleak mid-winter")
Place in the larger work: The third song of six in the song cycle called "Cycle of Light," which includes 1. "Cycle of Light" (Delores Dufner); 2. "Shadows and Brightness" (Susan Palo Cherwien); 3. "A Christmas Carol: In the Bleak Mid-Winter" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Good Friday" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "Morning Has Broken" (Eleanor Farjeon); 6. "Children of the Heavenly Father" (Caroline V. Sandell Berg, trans. Ernst William Olson).
Tempo markings: "Gently rocking (a la Sarabande)"; quarter note = 86
4 pages (pp. 8-11); performance time 3 minutes and 50 seconds
Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-martinson
"She sat and sang alway" [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]
other version 1 - instrumentation: piano
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: three sharps
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of six in a song cycle called "6 Sorrow Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Oh what comes over the Sea"; 2. "When I am dead, my dearest"; 3. "Oh, Roses for the flush of youth"; 4. "She sat and sang alway"; 5. "Unmindful of the Roses"; 6. "Too late for love"
Composition history: "By permission of Messrs. Macmillan & Co."
Performance history: Debut performance of the song cycle: "1904/V/18; Croydon; Public Hall; Marie Brema, mezzo-soprano" (de Lerma). Performance of the song cycle streamed live on Sep 23, 2020 in a concert at Wigmore Hall, London, with Elizabeth Llewellyn, soprano and Simon Lepper, piano, YouTube, https://youtu.be/KuoYQydNjG4. Accessed 29 Sep. 2020.
Dedication: "To My Wife" [Jessie Coleridge-Taylor]
Notes: The song cycle was arranged with string quartet accompaniment by Cedric Sharpe (British, 1891-1978) (Gooch and Thatcher 4731). Also arranged "for medium voice and orchestra" (de Lerma).
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel; music (English, 1875-1912)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4731
Reference: IMSLP Petrucci Music Library, http://imslp.org/
Other data reference(s): de Lerma, Dominique-René. 46. Works. "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)." AfriClassical.com, African Heritage in Classical Music, http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/song.html#46. Accessed 6 Dec. 2018.
Cataloguer: Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
musical score for low voice: University of Victoria Library, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
musical score for high voice: IMSLP Petrucci Music Library, https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ReverseLookup/23607. Accessed 2 Oct. 2018.
London: Augener Ltd.; Paris: Max Eschig; Boston: Boston Music Co.
1904 [publication] [copyright]; 1906 [copyright]
musical score for low voice: "Copyright 1904, by Augener & Co." musical score for high voice: "Copyright 1906, by Augener & Co."
File(s): CRM-songshesat-coleridge-taylor-low.pdf; CRM-songshesat-coleridge-taylor-high.pdf