First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")
Tempo markings: "Very smoothly and quietly, with great simplicity"; quarter note = 104
Notes: Published as part of a collection of settings of Rossetti poems titled "Two Songs" which includes 1. "When I am dead"; 2. "A Birthday."
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)
Other data reference(s): Record for "Two Songs, No. 1. When I am dead. No. 2. A Birthday. Words by C. Rossetti, etc." British Library, http://explore.bl.uk/BLVU1:LSCOP-ALL:BLL01004233359. Accessed 1 Apr. 2019.
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
musical score: The British Library, London
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.
Other data reference(s): Record for "When I am dead. Song." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/20913727. Accessed 4 April 2019.
"Song: (When I am dead, my dearest)" [John Somers-Cocks]
Somers-Cocks, John P. [Patrick]; music (English, 1907-1995)
Other data reference(s): "When I Am Dead." British Museum Collection, https://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/score/when-i-am-dead-2. Accessed 9 Apr. 2020. Record for "Song: (When I am Dead, My Dearest)." British Library, http://explore.bl.uk/BLVU1:LSCOP-ALL:BLL01005278297. Accessed 9 Apr. 2020.
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
Record: CRM-songwheniamdead-somers-cocks
Composition history: "The words by Christina Rossetti (by kind permission of Messrs. Macmillan & Co.)"
Hill, Alfred; music (Australian, 1869-1960)
Other data reference(s): Record for "When I am dead : [for voice and piano]." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/225270778. Accessed 4 April 2019.
musical score: Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
"In the shadow of the rainbow" [Timothy Luby]
initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
Performance instructions: The harp and cello are optional.
Notes: Manuscript score. The score includes an introduction. "Song (When I Am Dead, My Dearest)" is incorporated into the requiem as one of several "tropes"-- "interpolations intended to amplify or comment on the main body" (Luby).
Luby, Timothy; music (American, born 1946)
Other data reference(s): Record for "When I am dead, my dearest." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55218346. "Timothy Luby." Requiem Survey, http://www.requiemsurvey.org/composers.php?id=2026. Accessed 4 April 2019.
"Sing no sad songs for me" [Raymond Earle Mitchell]
other version 1 - instrumentation: piano|orchestra
Performance instructions: "(In Ancient Style)" is stated under the title on the score. With piano or orchestra accompaniment--orchestra part on hire. (Gooch and Thatcher 4772)
Performance history: "Sung by Allen McQuhae"
Notes: For high voice in A and medium voice in E
Mitchell, Raymond Earle; music (American, 1895-1967)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4772
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
Cataloguer: Claudia Laugalys and Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
musical score: Ball State University Libraries, Muncie
"Copyright MCMXXVIII, by H.T. FitzSimons, Chicago, Ill."
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-mitchell.pdf
"Sing No Sad Songs For Me" [John Jeffreys]
Tempo markings: quarter note = 63; "con poco rubato, sempre espressivo"
Performance instructions: The solo may be sung by either a baritone or soprano.
Notes: The song collection includes a substantial preface by Colin Scott-Sutherland describing the composer's musical and literary influences.
Jeffreys, John; music (English, 1927-2010)
Other data reference(s): "John Jeffreys Obituary." The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/oct/21/john-jeffreys-obituary. Accessed 6 May 2019.
musical score: Royal Academy of Music Library, London
Wendover, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire: Roberton Publications
"My dearest (sing no sad songs for me)" [Gustav Klemm]
Other data reference(s): Record for "My dearest (sing no sad songs for me)." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/595197379. Accessed 19 July 2019.
musical score: Music Library Special Collections, Arizona State University, Tempe
"Copyright 1940 by Boosey & Co., Ltd. International Copyright Secured"
"And, if thou wilt, remember" [Arthur Foote]
Tempo markings: "Expressively: not too fast."
Foote, Arthur; music (American, 1853-1937)
Other data reference(s): Record for "And, if thou wilt, remember." Voyager Catalogue, River Campus Libraries, https://catalog.lib.rochester.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=1129905. Accessed 5 April 2019.
musical score: New England Conservatory of Music Library, Boston
"When I Am Dead, My Dearest" [Arthur Strang]
"Song (Oh roses for the flush of youth)" [Davide Zannoni]
First line of lyrics: Oh roses for the flush of youth
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("Oh roses for the flush of youth")
Place in the larger work: The first song of three in a song cycle called "Three Rossetti Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song (oh roses for the flush of youth)"; 2. "Judge not according to the appearance"; 3. "Song (when I am dead, my dearest)."
Notes about the text: "The first two pieces were commissioned by soprano Leesa Levy, who asked me to write something that would go with an already existing work entitled "Aldina". I find Christina Rossetti's poetry particularly inspiring, because of both her beautiful language and deeply moving ideas, in which spirituality and nature coexist harmoniously" (Zannoni).
Tempo markings: "Calm" quarter note = 80 circa; performance time 10 minutes
Performance instructions: "Work is intended as a whole, but each song can be performed individually." Notes for the performers: "Whirling tubes are ad libitum and can be omitted if they are not available. The notation in the vibraphone should always be played as four sixteenth notes" (Zannoni).
Dedication: "Commissioned by and Dedicated to Leesa Levy"
Zannoni, Davide; music (Italian, born 1958)
Other data reference(s): "Three Rossetti Songs (2006, 5')." Polyhymion, http://polyhymnion.org/zannoni/music/rossetti.html. Accessed 8 April 2019.
Cataloguer: Megan McKague, University of Ottawa
musical score: score provided compliments of the composer
This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears on this site by kind permission of composer, Davide Zannoni.
5 pages (pp. 1-5); performance time 10 minutes (song cycle)
"Judge not according to the appearance" [Davide Zannoni]
First line of lyrics: Lord, purge our eyes to see
Rossetti poem(s): "Judge not according to the appearance"
Place in the larger work: The second song of three in a song cycle called "Three Rossetti Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song (oh roses for the flush of youth)"; 2. "Judge not according to the appearance"; 3. "Song (when I am dead, my dearest)."
Tempo markings: "Incisive"; quarter note = 132 circa
Dedication: "Commissioned by and dedicated to Frederico Poli"
5 pages (pp. 6-10); performance time 10 minutes (song cycle)
"Song (When I am dead, my dearest)" [Davide Zannoni]
Place in the larger work: The third song of three in a song cycle called "Three Rossetti Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Song (oh roses for the flush of youth)"; 2. "Judge not according to the appearance"; 3. "Song (when I am dead, my dearest)."
Composition history: Zannini describes the poem on his website: "The poem describes the parting from life and evokes, in a lyrical and moving style, some scenes from the natural world, which was very dear to my mother. The title was inspired by an old photo of my mother as a very young child, found by chance in one of her drawers. On the back of the photo someone wrote in pencil "Aldina" (Little Alda). Generally we are not used to thinking of our parents as children; therefore I found this image of my mother as a baby particularly moving" (Zannoni).
Tempo markings: "Tranquillo"; quarter note = 60 ca
Notes: The setting is titled "Song" in the list of songs on the second page, but it is titled "Aldina" on the first page of the score itself.
5 pages (pp. 11-15); performance time 10 minutes (song cycle)
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-zannoni.pdf
solo: counter-tenor|mezzo-soprano|baritone
Place in the larger work: The second song of five in the song cycle called "Peacocks with a hundred eyes," which includes 1. "Music when soft voices die" (Percy Bysshe Shelley); 2. "Song" (Christina Rossetti); 3. "Remember" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Echo" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "A birthday" (Christina Rossetti).
Notes about the text: The text of the poem "Music when soft voices die" is interspersed throughout the song cycle: the first two lines open the song cycle, then the third and fourth lines follow "Song," the fifth and sixth follow "Echo" and the seventh and eighth follow "Remember."
Composition history: "Commissioned by James Littlejohn in memory of his mother."
Tempo markings: "Con moto"; quarter note = 120
Performance instructions: The solo may be sung by a counter-tenor, mezzo-soprano, or baritone.
McLeod, John; music (Scottish, born 1934)
Other data reference(s): Record for "Peacocks with a hundred eyes : song-cycle for counter-tenor (or mezzo-soprano or baritone) and piano / music by John McLeod ; words by Shelley and Christina Rossetti." Royal College of Music London, https://rcm.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=235568. Accessed 14 Mar. 2019.
Cataloguer: Sarah Pennington, University of Ottawa
musical score: Royal College of Music Library, London
First line of lyrics: Remember me when I am gone away
solo: baritone|counter-tenor|mezzo-soprano
Place in the larger work: The third song of five in the song cycle called "Peacocks with a hundred eyes" which includes 1. "Music when soft voices die" (Percy Bysshe Shelley); 2. "Song" (Christina Rossetti); 3. "Remember" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Echo" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "A birthday" (Christina Rossetti).
Tempo markings: "Poco accel"; quarter note = 56
First line of lyrics: Come to me in the silence of the night
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of five in the song cycle called "Peacocks with a hundred eyes" which includes 1. "Music when soft voices die" (Percy Bysshe Shelley); 2. "Song" (Christina Rossetti); 3. "Remember" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Echo" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "A birthday" (Christina Rossetti).
Notes about the text: The text of the poem "Music when soft voices die" is interspersed throughout the song cycle: the first two lines open the song cycle, then the third and fourth lines follow "Song," the fifth and sixth follow "Remember" and the seventh and eighth follow "Echo."
Tempo markings: "Maestoso"; quarter note = 60
First line of lyrics: My heart, my heart, my heart is like a singing bird
Place in the larger work: The fifth song of five in the song cycle called "Peacocks with a hundred eyes" which includes 1. "Music when soft voices die" (Percy Bysshe Shelley); 2. "Song" (Christina Rossetti); 3. "Remember" (Christina Rossetti); 4. "Echo" (Christina Rossetti); 5. "A birthday" (Christina Rossetti).
Tempo markings: "Vivace"; quarter note = 132
Other data reference(s): Record for "A birthday / John McLeod ; [text by] Christina Rossetti ; [in Peacocks with a hundred eyes : song-cycle for counter-tenor (or mezzo-soprano or baritone) and piano]. Royal College of Music London, https://rcm.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=235577&query_desc=kw%2Cwrdl%3A%20a%20birthday%20rossetti#. Accessed 14 Mar. 2019. Record for "Peacocks with a hundred eyes : song-cycle for counter-tenor (or mezzo-soprano or baritone) and piano / music by John McLeod ; words by Shelley and Christina Rossetti." Royal College of Music London, https://rcm.koha-ptfs.co.uk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=235568. Accessed 14 Mar. 2019.
Part of: "Christina Rossetti, My Mother and Me"
Place in the larger work: The second song of five in the song cycle called "Christina Rossetti, My Mother and Me," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Uphill"; 2. "Sleeping At Last"; 3. "Song"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Another Spring".
Tempo markings: "Larghetto"; quarter note = 66
Shaffer, Jeanne E.; music (American, 1925-2007)
musical score: Toronto Music Library, Toronto
"Copyright © 1997 by Arsis Press | 1719 Bay Street, S.E., Washington D.C. 20003 | All Rights Reserved."
3 pages (pp. 5-7); complete song cycle performance time 13 minutes
Place in the larger work: The third song of five in the song cycle called "Christina Rossetti, My Mother and Me," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Uphill"; 2. "Sleeping At Last"; 3. "Song"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Another Spring".
Tempo markings: "Allegro Moderato"; quarter note = 82
Performance instructions: The solo is for mezzo-soprano or baritone.
3 pages (pp. 8-10); complete song cycle performance time 13 minutes
First line of lyrics: Remember me, remember me when I am gone away
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of five in the song cycle called "Christina Rossetti, My Mother and Me," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Uphill"; 2. "Sleeping At Last"; 3. "Song"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Another Spring".
Tempo markings: "Adagio"; quarter note = 66
3 pages (pp. 11-13); complete song cycle performance time 13 minutes
First line of lyrics: If I might see another spring
Place in the larger work: The fifth song of five in the song cycle called "Christina Rossetti, My Mother and Me," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "Uphill"; 2. "Sleeping At Last"; 3. "Song"; 4. "Remember"; 5. "Another Spring".
Tempo markings: "Allegro"; quarter note = 144
Performance instructions: This solo is for mezzo-soprano or baritone.
5 pages (pp. 14-18); complete song cycle performance time 13 minutes
"Sing No Sad Songs For Me" [C. Henshaw Dana]
musical score: Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/sm1876.12617/. Accessed 23 May 2019.
First line of lyrics: Winter is cold hearted
Place in the larger work: The first song of 12 in the song cycle of Rossetti poem settings called "An End" which includes 1. "Summer"; 2. "Somewhere or other"; 3. "A Birthday"; 4. "Song 1"; 5."From Metastasio"; 6. "Song 2"; 7. "Song 3"; 8. "Remember"; 9. "An end." 10. "Lines - circa 1875"; 11. "Uphill"; 12. "Sleeping at last." The three stanzas of Christina Rossetti's poem "Passing and Glassing" are interspersed throughout the song cycle, with the first stanza at the beginning of the cycle, the second between songs 6 and 7, and the third at the end of the song cycle.
Notes about the text: The last three lines of the poem are omitted in this setting.
Tempo markings: "Moderato"; quarter note = 106
Performance instructions: A note written by the composer at the end of the score explains "Though the songs are intended to be sung in the cycle-form here presented, they can be sung separately, and each is self contained. All metronome markings are suggestions only, as are Pedal marks and fingering."
Notes: A note on the first page of the score indicates that the song cycle is an "Hommage a Benjamin Britten."
Keane, Robert; music (Australian, born 1948)
musical score: University of New South Wales, Australia
Broadway, New South Wales: Australian Music Centre
First line of lyrics: Somewhere or other there must surely be
Place in the larger work: The second song of 12 in the song cycle of Rossetti poem settings called "An End" which includes 1. "Summer"; 2. "Somewhere or other"; 3. "A Birthday"; 4. "Song 1"; 5."From Metastasio"; 6. "Song 2"; 7. "Song 3"; 8. "Remember"; 9. "An end." 10. "Lines - circa 1875"; 11. "Uphill"; 12. "Sleeping at last." The three stanzas of Christina Rossetti's poem "Passing and Glassing" are interspersed throughout the song cycle, with the first stanza at the beginning of the cycle, the second between songs 6 and 7, and the third at the end of the song cycle.
Tempo markings: "Poco allegro"; half note = 106-112
First line of lyrics: My heart is like a singing bird
Place in the larger work: The third song of 12 in the song cycle of Rossetti poem settings called "An End" which includes 1. "Summer"; 2. "Somewhere or other"; 3. "A Birthday"; 4. "Song 1"; 5."From Metastasio"; 6. "Song 2"; 7. "Song 3"; 8. "Remember"; 9. "An end." 10. "Lines - circa 1875"; 11. "Uphill"; 12. "Sleeping at last." The three stanzas of Christina Rossetti's poem "Passing and Glassing" are interspersed throughout the song cycle, with the first stanza at the beginning of the cycle, the second between songs 6 and 7, and the third at the end of the song cycle.
Notes about the text: The composer adds an extra line of lyrics at the end: "My love has come to me."
Tempo markings: "Allegro giocoso"; quarter note = approx. 160; "40-42 bars per minute"