First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
musical score: New York Public Library, New York
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.
First line of lyrics: My heart is like a singing bird
Place in the larger work: The first song of three in the song cycle called "Twilight," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "A Birthday"; 2. "Mirage"; 3. "Song".
Notes about the text: Thomas substitutes "like a water'd shoot" for "in a water'd shoot" and "on a halcyon sea" for "in a halcyon sea." The first line of the poem "my heart is like a singing bird" is repeated at the end of the song.
Composition history: The song cycle was "Commissioned by Karen Eckenroth and Otterbein College."
Tempo markings: "Allegro"; half note = 92
Recordings: "Twilight." Experience, performance by Natalie Mann, soprano, Jeff Panko, piano, Albany, 2013. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/album/7567isSvYmpPQXrDqVinhK. Accessed 9 Jul. 2021.
Thomas, Richard Pearson; music (American, born 1957)
Other data reference(s): Carman, Judith. "TWILIGHT. Three Songs on Poems of Christina Rossetti for High Voice." Journal of Singing, vol. 67, no. 3, 2011, pp. 370-371, ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/docview/874155748?accountid=14701.
Cataloguer: Sarah Pennington, University of Ottawa
musical score: New England Conservatory of Music, Boston
"©2007 R. Pearson Thomas | Portage Press Publishing"
6 pages (pp. 2-7); performance time approx. 2 minutes; complete song cycle performance time approx. 11 minutes
First line of lyrics: The hope I dreamed of was a dream
Place in the larger work: The second song of three in the song cycle called "Twilight," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "A Birthday"; 2. "Mirage"; 3. "Song".
Performance instructions: "Mysteriously, evenly"
Cataloguer: Madeline Paiva, University of Ottawa
7 pages (pp. 8-14); performance time approx. 5 minutes; complete song cycle performance time approx. 11 minutes
Place in the larger work: The third song of three in the song cycle called "Twilight," settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. "A Birthday"; 2. "Mirage"; 3. "Song".
Tempo markings: "Andante espressivo"; dotted half note = 46
8 pages (pp. 15-22); performance time approx. 4 minutes; complete song cycle performance time approx. 11 minutes
"When I am dead, my dearest" [Karl Reden]
Reden, Karl; music (American, a.k.a. Charles Crozat Converse, 1832-1918)
Other data reference(s): "Charles C. Converse." Hymnary.org, https://hymnary.org/person/Converse_Charles. Accessed 6 January 2020.
Tempo markings: "Very slowly, with deep feeling"
Floridia, Pietro; music (Italian, 1860-1932)
"Copyright MCMXV by Carl Fischer, New York. International Copyright Secured."
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-floridia.pdf
First line of lyrics: O Earth, lie heavily upon her eyes
Part of: "Three Poems of Christina Rossetti"
other version 1 - instrumentation: piano
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: six sharps
Place in the larger work: The first song of three in the song cycle called “Three Poems of Christina Rossetti,” settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. “Rest”; 2. “Echo"; 3. "A Hope Carol".
Tempo markings: "Moderately slow"; half note = 69
Performance instructions: "with great calm"
Recordings: "Rest." Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Catherine Cook, mezzo-soprano and Steven Bailey, piano, 2010. Song of America, https://songofamerica.net/song/rest/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020. Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano, Kevin Korth, piano. E. C. Schirmer Music Company, https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53383/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-medium-voice/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2020. Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Brian Thorsett, tenor, Steven Bailey, piano. E. C. Schirmer Music Company, https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53382/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-high-voice/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2020.
Conte, David; music (American, born 1955)
Other data reference(s): "Three Poems of Christina Rossetti." Song of America, https://songofamerica.net/song/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti/. Accessed 23 March 2020.
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
Musical score for mezzo-soprano: ECS Publishing Group, www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53383/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-medium-voice/
Musical score for high voice: ECS Publishing Group, www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53382/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-high-voice/
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Three Poems of Christina Rossetti." ECS Publishing Group, www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53383/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-medium-voice/ (for mezzo-soprano); www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53382/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-high-voice/ (for high voice). Accessed 23 March 2020.
2009 [composition]; 2010 [publication] [copyright]
"© Copyright 2010 by E. C. Schirmer Music Company. A division of ECS Publishing, Boston, Massachusetts. All rights reserved."
5 pages (pp. 4-8 [mezzo-soprano], pp. 2-6 [high voice]); performance time 5 minutes; complete song cycle performance time 15 minutes
First line of lyrics: Come to me in the silence of the night
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: five sharps
Place in the larger work: The second song of three in the song cycle called “Three Poems of Christina Rossetti,” settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. “Rest”; 2. “Echo"; 3. "A Hope Carol".
Tempo markings: "Andante"; quarter note = 72
Performance instructions: "quiet and stately"
Recordings: "Echo." Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Catherine Cook, mezzo-soprano and Steven Bailey, piano, 2010. Song of America, https://songofamerica.net/song/echo/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020. Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano, Kevin Korth, piano. E. C. Schirmer Music Company, https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53383/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-medium-voice/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2020. Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Brian Thorsett, tenor, Steven Bailey, piano. E. C. Schirmer Music Company, https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53382/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-high-voice/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2020.
Cataloguer: Diana Bishara and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
musical score for mezzo-soprano: ECS Publishing Group, www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53383/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-medium-voice/
6 pages (pp. 9-14 [mezzo-soprano], pp. 7-12 [high voice]); performance time 6 minutes; complete song cycle performance time 15 minutes
initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
Place in the larger work: The third song of three in the song cycle called “Three Poems of Christina Rossetti,” settings of Christina Rossetti poems. The songs include 1. “Rest”; 2. “Echo"; 3. "A Hope Carol".
Composition history: "‘A Hope Carol’ was composed as a choral piece in 2006. A version for solo voice was composed in 2007 [2008?] and is dedicated to Elizabeth Mannion." ("Three Poems of Christina Rossetti"). "The song was originally composed in 2008. In 2010, David Conte published two more settings of Christina Rossetti to form the song set Three Poems of Christina Rossetti. The song is still published alone and as part of the song cycle." ("A Hope Carol")
Tempo markings: "Moderately, not too slow"; dotted quarter note = 72
Recordings: Conte, David. "A Hope Carol." Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Catherine Cook, mezzo-soprano and Steven Bailey, piano, 2010. Song of America, https://songofamerica.net/song/hope-carol/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020. Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Kindra Scharich, mezzo-soprano, Kevin Korth, piano. E. C. Schirmer Music Company, https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53383/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-medium-voice/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2020. Three Poems of Christina Rossetti, performance by Brian Thorsett, tenor, Steven Bailey, piano. E. C. Schirmer Music Company, https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/id/53382/s/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti-conte-david-high-voice/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2020.
Other data reference(s): "Three Poems of Christina Rossetti." Song of America, https://songofamerica.net/song/three-poems-of-christina-rossetti/. Accessed 23 March 2020. "A Hope Carol." Song of America, https://songofamerica.net/song/hope-carol/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020.
2008 [composition] [copyright]; 2010 [publication] [copyright]
"© Copyright 2008 by E. C. Schirmer Music Company. A division of ECS Publishing, Boston, Massachusetts. All rights reserved."
performance time 4 minutes; complete song cycle performance time 15 minutes
Place in the larger work: The first movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Composition history: The composer makes the following comments about his composition: "Mankind’s spiritual journey through life and our attitude to death provide the themes of Christina Rossetti’s best work: the relationships between living and loving on the one hand, and grieving and memory on the other. The first poem in this cycle confronts the physical reality of death and tauntingly asks how far memory will reach beyond the grave. After musing on the transience of worldly things (no.2), the poet embarks on a spiritual quest (no.3). Love and youth are recalled (no.4) before a reflection that the ultimate act of love is to relinquish it (no.5). Even spring-life is destined to die (no.6), yet grief is hard to bear and memories are real (no.7). All we can do is search (no.8) and our journey will be its own reward (no.9)" ("Rossetti Requiem").
Tempo markings: eighth note = 84 (original complete score); eighth note = 108 (2019 revised complete score)
Performance instructions: It states on the 2019 revised complete score that "Rossetti Requiem is a setting of texts by Christina Rossetti for soloists [soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass], choir [soprano, alto, tenor, bass] and orchestra [2 flutes doubling piccolo; 2 bassoons (2nd doubling contrabassoon), 2 horns in F, percussion (3 deep concert toms, bass drum, vibraphone, tambourine, cymbal), violins 1, violins 2, violas, cellos, double bass)]." The original score did not list bass drum and states "2 bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon)." Lambert also states "The movements should, as far as possible, be performed without a break; where a pause is essential it should come after the 6th movement" (original complete score) and "The movements should, as far as possible, be performed without a break" (2019 revised complete score).
Performance history: First performed November 2010 by Jacqueline Pischorn (soprano), Grace Wain (mezzo-soprano), Paul Robinson (tenor), Ian Caddy (bass), and Newbury Chamber Choir & Orchestra, conducted by the composer ("Rossetti Requiem").
Recordings: "Rossetti Requiem." SoundCloud, uploaded by MusicJug, 2013, https://soundcloud.com/musicjug/sets/rossetti-requiem. Accessed 3 Dec. 2019.
Dedication: "for the Newbury chamber choir (2010)"
Notes: On the composer's website, an electronic simulation of the music and a vocal score with keyboard accompaniment, "an approximate reduction of the orchestra score intended for rehearsal only", are available ("Rossetti Requiem").
Lambert, Edward; music (English, born 1951)
Reference: IMSLP Petrucci Music Library, http://imslp.org/
Other data reference(s): "Rossetti Requiem." Edward Lambert, http://www.edwardlambert.co.uk/rossetti-requiem.html. Accessed 14 March 2019.
Cataloguer: Robyn Finlay and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
Music scores for original and 2019 revision: "Rossetti Requiem (Lambert, Edward)." IMSLP Petrucci Music Library, https://imslp.org/wiki/Rossetti_Requiem_(Lambert%2C_Edward). Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
2010 [composition] [copyright]; 2019 [revised composition]
"© 2010 The composer's rights are asserted," Rossetti Requiem (Lambert, Edward), https://imslp.org/wiki/Rossetti_Requiem_(Lambert%2C_Edward) by Edward Lambert, http://www.edwardlambert.co.uk, is licenced under IMSLP:Performance Restricted Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0, https://imslp.org/wiki/IMSLP:Performance_Restricted_Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike_3.0 (like the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) except no performance rights are granted to the user)
23 pages (pp. 5-26); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 24 pages (pp. 5-28); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-songwheniamdead-lambert-2019.pdf
First line of lyrics: Vanity of vanities, the Preacher saith
Place in the larger work: The second movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: quarter note = 54 (original complete score); quarter note = 80 (2019 revised complete score)
21 pages (pp. 27-57); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 32 pages (pp. 29-60); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-onecertainty-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-onecertainty-lambert-2019.pdf
First line of lyrics: A voice said 'Follow, follow': and I rose
Place in the larger work: The third movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: eighth note = 72 (original complete score); eighth note = 84 (2019 revised complete score)
18 pages (pp. 58-75); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 19 pages (pp. 61-79); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-twopursuits-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-twopursuits-lambert-2019.pdf
First line of lyrics: When my love came home to me
Rossetti poem(s): "In the Lane"|"A Birthday"
Place in the larger work: The fourth movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Work contains multiple Christina Rossetti texts
Notes about the text: Text from Rossetti's poem "In the Lane" is interspersed with text from her poem "A Birthday" in this order: the first four lines of "In the Lane," the first stanza of "A Birthday," the second stanza of "In the Lane," the second stanza of "A Birthday," the third stanza of "In the Lane." The final lines of the two poems are sung in unison.
Tempo markings: half note = 108 (original complete score); half note = 108 (2019 revised complete score)
Cataloguer: Robyn Finlay Sarah Pennington and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
17 pages (pp. 76-92); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 20 pages (pp. 80-99); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-inthelane-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-inthelane-lambert-2019.pdf
First line of lyrics: Remember me, Remember me when I am gone away
Place in the larger work: The fifth movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: eighth note = 54 (original complete score); eighth note = 54 (2019 revised complete score)
16 pages (pp. 93-108); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 14 pages (pp. 100-113); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-remember-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-remember-lambert-2019.pdf
"Frost-locked all the winter" [Edward Lambert]
First line of lyrics: Frost-locked all the winter
Place in the larger work: The sixth movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: quarter note = 132 (original complete score); "Tutti", quarter note = 132 (2019 revised complete score)
63 pages (pp. 108-170); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 64 pages (pp. 114-177); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-spring-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-spring-lambert-2019.pdf
Place in the larger work: The seventh movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: eighth note = 84 (original complete score); eighth note = 104 (2019 revised complete score)
20 pages (pp. 170-189); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 18 pages (pp. 178-195); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-echo-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-echo-lambert-2019.pdf
First line of lyrics: Somewhere or other there must surely be
Place in the larger work: The eighth movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: "Choir, sempre sotto voce", Eighth note = 63 (original complete score); "Tutti, sempre sotto voce", half note = 48 (2019 revised complete score)
Performance instructions: In the original score, the time signature for this movement is 4/8, the same only for the instrumental part at the beginning of the movement in the 2019 revised score. It states on the 2019 revised complete score that "Rossetti Requiem is a setting of texts by Christina Rossetti for soloists [soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass], choir [soprano, alto, tenor, bass] and orchestra [2 flutes doubling piccolo; 2 bassoons (2nd doubling contrabassoon), 2 horns in F, percussion (3 deep concert toms, bass drum, vibraphone, tambourine, cymbal), violins 1, violins 2, violas, cellos, double bass)]." The original score did not list bass drum and states "2 bassoons (one doubling contrabassoon)." Lambert also states "The movements should, as far as possible, be performed without a break; where a pause is essential it should come after the 6th movement" (original complete score) and "The movements should, as far as possible, be performed without a break" (2019 revised complete score).
7 pages (pp. 195-201 - vocal section); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 4 pages (pp. 201-204 - vocal section); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-somewhereorother-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-somewhereorother-lambert-2019.pdf
"Does the road wind uphill?" [Edward Lambert]
First line of lyrics: Does the road wind uphill all the way?
Place in the larger work: The ninth movement of nine in the oratorio called "Rossetti Requiem" which includes: 1. Mezzo-soprano solo: "When I am dead"; 2. Chorus: "Vanity of vanities"; 3. Tenor solo: "A voice said"; 4. Chorus: "When my love"; 5. Soprano solo: "Remember me"; 6. Chorus: "Frost-locked all the winter"; 7. Bass solo: "Come to me"; 8. Chorus: "Somewhere or other"; 9. Quartet and Chorus: "Does the road wind uphill?"
Tempo markings: quarter note = 54 (original complete score); quarter note = 60 (2019 revised complete score)
32 pages (pp. 202-233); complete requiem performance time 55 minutes (original complete score). 33 pages (pp. 205-237); complete requiem performance time 45 minutes (2019 revised complete score)
File(s): CRM-uphill-lambert-2010.pdf; CRM-uphill-lambert-2019.pdf
"In My Sky at Twilight" [Augusta Read Thomas]
First line of lyrics: Ablaze with desire
Notes about the text: This work is divided into two sections and includes excerpts from the following literary works: I. "Deeper than all Roses": "Kokinshu" (Ono no Komachi), "The Ring and the Book" (Robert Browning), "Madame Bovary" (Gustave Flaubert), "Dancing-Girl's Song" (Kshetrayya), "to Atthis" (Sappho), "somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond" (E.E. Cummings), "Ancient Egyptian Love Lyric" (Anonymous, ca. 1085-570 B.C.), "Repeat that, repeat" (Gerard Manley Hopkins), "Kore" (W.S. Merwin), "Moonrise June 19, 1876" (Gerard Manley Hopkins); II. "Lament": "Echo" (Christina Rossetti),"The stars and the rivers" (Pindar), "In My Sky At Twilight" (Pablo Neruda, translated by W.S. Merwin), "Sonnet XLIII, From the Portuguese" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning), "I shall think of you" (Lady Kasa). Of Rossetti's poem "Echo," Thomas includes only the last four lines: "Come back to me in dreams, that I may give / Pulse for pulse, breath for breath: / Speak low, lean low, / As long ago, my love, how long ago."
Composition history: "Commissioned for MusicNow, the new music chamber series of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in loving memory of Marilyn M. Simpson by her devoted family." The composer states on her website: "William G. Simpson generously asked me to make a composition based on the theme: enduring love that spans the chasm of death. The result is IN MY SKY AT TWILIGHT, a collection of songs inspired by passion and love, commissioned in loving memory of Marilyn M. Simpson by her devoted family." ("In My Sky at Twilight (2002)")
Tempo markings: "Blazing, urgent, passionate"; quarter note = 72-80
Performance instructions: "This work was intended for three kinds of performance: 1. a concert performance; 2. a ballet/dance performance; 3. a version which incorporates a small chorus, threading its signing throughout the different episodes of this work, coming in and out of the texture in a fluid manner, is now being prepared by the composer. This version is 10 minutes longer and is intended as a one-act music theater/opera work. Dance could also be used in this version."
Performance history: "The world premiere took place in Chicago on December 1, 2002, in Orchestra Hall with Pierre Boulez conducting members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Christine Brandes as soprano soloist." A second version of the setting was "Premiered on a Portrait Concert at the Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy at the Teatro alle Tese in Venice. Ivan Fedele, Director of Music, 5, October 2018." "The wind, brass, percussion, piano (celesta) harp parts are identical in both versions. The string parts are not identical." ("In My Sky at Twilight (2002)")
Recordings: Augusta Read Thomas "In My Sky at Twilight." Performance by Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music NOW Ensemble, Christine Brandes, Pierre Boulez. From Augusta Read Thomas: Selected Works for Orchestra, 2014.
Dedication: "This work is dedicated with admiration and gratitude to Pierre Boulez, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Christine Brandes, and William G. Simpson."
Thomas, Augusta Read; music (American, born 1964)
Komachi, Ono; text (Japanese, active 9th century). Browning, Robert; text (English, 1849-1912). Flaubert, Gustave; text (French, 1821-1880). Kshetrayya; text (Indian, active 17th century). Sappho; text (Archaic Greek, c. 630 – c. 570 BC). Cummings, E.E.; text (English, 1894-1962). Anonymous; text ("Ancient Egyptian Love Lyric"). Hopkins, Gerard Manley; text (English, 1844-1889). Merwin, W. S. [William Stanley]; text (American, 1927-2019). Pindar; text (Ancient Greek, c. 518 – 438 BC). Neruda, Pablo; text (Chilean, 1904-1973). Browning, Elizabeth Barrett; text (English, 1806-1861). Lady Kasa; text (Japanese, active 8th century).
Merwin, W.S. [William Stanley]; translation of Neruda text (American, 1927-2019)
Other data reference(s): "In My Sky at Twilight — Songs of Passion and Love (2002)." Wise Music Classical, https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/33848/. Accessed 24 March 2020. "In My Sky at Twilight (2002)." Augusta Read Thomas, http://www.augustareadthomas.com/composition/inmysky.html. Accessed 24 March 2020.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "In My Sky at Twilight — Songs of Passion and Love (2002)." Wise Music Classical, https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/33848/. Accessed 24 March 2020.
"Copyright © 2018 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New Yorker, NY. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved."
Composition history: "Written for the Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge, for performance on the centenary of the Armistice that ended World War 1."
Other data reference(s): "Remember (2018)." Wise Music Classical, https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/59145/. Accessed 26 March 2020. "Remember by Owain Park." Sheet Music Plus, https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/remember-sheet-music/21317375.
First line of lyrics: Oh why is heaven built so far
Composition history: "I really don’t remember writing this piece. That’s an odd thing to say, especially in such a permanent format as this one, but the truth is that this music rang through my head as I was reading the poem for the first time, and I simply felt moved to write it down. Christina Rossetti’s words often do that for me, in a way that not many other poets’ words have the ability to do. There’s something so aching and haunting in her text; the challenge, as I’ve said before, is to fill up the space between the words without actually getting in the way of their meaning."
Tempo markings: "Thoughtful and unrushed"; quarter note = 120-128
Performance instructions: "The wonderful Judith Clurman asked me to clarify some of the dynamics in this piece, and in tracking them I found myself resisting the urge to identify just how loud each crescendo should be. I know that my definition of mezzo piano might be different from yours, and so the secret (which is no secret) is that the phrases should just be musical. They should swell and retract, they should push and pull. Use the dynamic markings as a guide, but if your forte is filled with passion and your piano is filled with reverence, you’re probably singing it exactly as I intended."
Performance history: "I’d like to extend my soulful thanks to Jeremy Faust and the International Orange Chorale in San Francisco. They premiered this piece for me back in 2004 and gave me my most beautiful first recording of it."
Stitt, Georgia; music (American, born 1972)
Other data reference(s): "De Profundis." Georgia Stitt, https://georgiastitt.com/music-library/de-profundis/. Accessed 26 March 2020. "De Profundis." Sheet Music Plus, https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/de-profundis-sheet-music/18432374?ac=1. Accessed 26 March 2020.
"Copyright © 2008 by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP) New York, NY. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved"
8 pages; performance time 2 minutes and 20 seconds
Notes: Also published in the "Canadian Art Songs for High Voice", selected and edited by Phyllis Mailing, Alberta Keys Music Publishing Co. Ltd. 2003, pp. 1-5.
Schudel, Thomas; music (Canadian, born in the United States, 1937)
Cataloguer: Mary Arseneau, University of Ottawa
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Echo." Canadian Music Centre, https://www.musiccentre.ca/node/11909. Accessed 26 March 2020.
Toronto: Canadian Music Centre; Alberta Keys Music Publishing co. ltd.
1992 [composition] [copyright]; 2002 [publication] [copyright]
"My Heart is Like a Singing Bird" [Mrs. L. Moncrieff]
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: one sharp
Composition history: "In September 1881, [Theo] Marzials and "Mrs. Moncrieff" had apparently written to [Christina Rossetti] regarding a setting of the poem. However, it is unclear from [Rossetti's] response whether Marzials was setting the poem by himself, or with (or for), Moncrieff, herself a singer and composer who published her own setting in 1882." (Ives DM41)
Performance history: "Sung by Miss Wakefield" (Ives DM44).
Dedication: "The Music Composed & Dedicated to Miss Louise Johnston" for No. 1 in F (Ives DM44); "Dedicated to Miss Louise Johnston"
Notes: "Available in two keys: 'No 1 in F' and 'No 2 in G' are both printed on the cover" (Ives DM44).
Moncrieff, Nita Gaetano, Mrs. Lynedoch Moncrieff; music (British, born Antoinette Gaëtano in 1851)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM44, DM41
Reference: Ives, Maura. Christina Rossetti: A Descriptive Bibliography. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2011.
Reference: Ezust, Emily. The LiederNet Archive. http://www.lieder.net/lieder/index.html
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: five flats
Composition history: Keats was known as the "poet’s composer," bringing the work of Australian and many overseas poets to a wider audience. This composition was completed on 14 January 1936. The "Notes on Horace Keats and this Song" that are included in the score state that "Keats’s eldest son [Russell (1921-1942)] was a flautist, so there is little doubt that he, as well as his mother performed this work. The work does not appear to have been used by the composer in later years. I suspect the death ["in the infamous Battle of Savo Island, whilst serving in HMAS Canberra" (Keats)] of this son five years after the composition of the work, would evoke memories too painful for the composer and his wife."
Tempo markings: "Moderato"; dotted quarter note = 80
Performance instructions: "Song with flute or violin and piano."
Recordings: "Echo." Echo: the Songs of Horace Keats, performance by Wendy Dixon, soprano, Marina Marsden, violin, David Miller, piano at Eugene Goossens Hall, ABC Centre, Ultimo, Sydney on 11-15 December 2000, ABC Classics, 2000. "Echo: the Songs of Horace Keats." Australian Music Centre, https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/echo-the-songs-of-horace-keats. Accessed 26 March 2020. "Echo." Piano and ... Performance by Emma Knott, flute, David Miller, piano, arranged by Brennan Keats, Wirripang, 2005, "Piano and ...." Australian Music Centre, https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/piano-and. Accessed 26 March 2020. "Echo." On the wire: Australian music for flute ensemble / Stables Ensemble. Performance by Stable Ensemble (piccolo, 4 flutes, alto flute, bass flute) at Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2005, Wirripang, 2010, "On the wire: Australian music for flute ensemble / Stables Ensemble." Australian Music Centre, https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/on-the-wire-australian-music-for-flute-ensemble. Accessed 26 March 2020. "Echo." A poet's composer / songs by Horace Keats. Music by Horace Keats, performance by Jane Parkin, soprano, Alexa Still, flute, Clemens Leske, piano at Track Down studios, Sydney, Wirripang, 2011. "A poet's composer / songs by Horace Keats." Australian Music Centre, https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/a-poet-s-composer. Accessed 26 March 2020. "Echo." Movement. Performed by Louise Page, soprano, Phillipa Candy, piano, The Linden String Quartet: Marina Marsden, Emily Long, violins, Justine Marsden, viola, Elizabeth Neville, cello, and Janet Webb, flute at National Portrait Gallery, Australia, Wirripang, 2015. "Movement." Australian Music Centre, https://www.australiancomposers.com.au/products/movement, Accessed 31 March 2020.
Notes: The version for soprano and piano is listed for "Grade: 8"
Keats, Horace; music (Australian, born in England, 1895-1945)
Other data reference(s): "Echo." National Library of Australia, trove.nla.gov.au/work/33985770. Accessed 2 Mar. 2018. Keats, Brennan. "Re: permission request." Received by Mary Arseneau. 10 April 2018.
musical score: Wirripang Pty Ltd, Australia.
musical score for voice: Wirripang Pty Ltd, Australia.
Culburra Beach, N.S.W. : Publications by Wirripang
© Copyright Publications by Wirripang Pty Ltd., Australia, 1999, ISMN M720007816. This score is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The score appears in the Christina Rossetti in Music archive by kind permission of the copyright holder, Wirripang Pty Ltd., Australia. It is illegal to copy or distribute works that are protected by copyright. All site users are responsible to comply with the copyright laws in the country from which they access the Christina Rossetti in Music site.
File(s): CRM-echo-keats.pdf; CRM-echo-keats-voice.pdf
other version 2 - instrumentation: piano
other version 2 - initial sharps/flats: three sharps
Composition history: "The words printed by kind permission of Messrs. Macmillan and Co."
Tempo markings: "Adagio con espressione"
Notes: "No. 1 in F; No.2 in G; No.3 in A."
Somerset, Henry Richard Charles, Lord; music (English, 1849-1932)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM131; Gooch and Thatcher 4385
Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.
Cataloguer: Diana Bishara, University of Ottawa
musical score in F: "Echo: song / the words by Christina Rossetti ; the music by Henry Somerset." National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/40236813. Accessed 27 March 2020.
musical score in A: "Echo: song / the words by Christina Rossetti ; the music by Henry Somerset." National Library of Australia, https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/42994048. Accessed 27 March 2020.
London, New York, Melbourne: Chappell and Co. Ltd.
File(s): CRM-echo-somerset-F.pdf; CRM-echo-somerset-A.pdf