Notes: From a song collection called "Three Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems, which includes 1. "When I am Dead, My Dearest"; 2. "Remember Me"; 3. "Paradise."
Taffs, J. Anthony; music (American, 1916-2005)
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
musical score: Anthony J. Taffs, https://campus.albion.edu/ataffs/catalog-of-compositions-2/song-cycles-for-soprano-with-piano-accompaniment/. Accessed 30 January 2020.
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.
"When I am dead, my dearest" [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]
First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest
other version 1 - instrumentation: piano
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: one sharp
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")
Place in the larger work: The second song of six in the song cycle called "6 Sorrow Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems, which includes 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." "1912/IX/5; West Croydon; St. Michael and All Angels; Julien Henry, baritone; funeral of the composer" (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.
Recordings: "Samuel Coleridge-Taylor When I am dead, my dearest." Lyrics by Christina Rossetti, performance by Hélène Linqvist, soprano, Philipp Vogle, piano. 2011. The Art Song Project, http://theartsongproject.com/when-i-am-dead-my-dearest/.
Dedication: "To My Wife" [Jessie Coleridge-Taylor]
Notes: The song cycle was arranged with string quartet accompaniment by Cedric Sharpe (British, 1891-1978). "When I am dead, my dearest" has been arranged in various forms and published under different titles. e.g. piano solo arranged by A. Roloff, published under the title "Reflections" in an album entitled "Melodies;" for organ solo (arranged by Dr. A. Eaglefield, included in "Organ Album," Book 1; for violin and piano duet, arranged by B. Constance Hull, published under the title "Regret" in an album entitled "Six Easy Pieces" (Gooch and Thatcher 4749).
Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel; music (English, 1875-1912)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4749
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
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: Warren Reid, 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."
Record: CRM-songwheniamdead-coleridge-taylor
File(s): CRM-songwheniamdead-coleridge-taylor-low.pdf; CRM-songwheniamdead-coleridge-taylor-high.pdf
"Oh, Roses for the flush of youth" [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: four flats
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("Oh roses for the flush of youth")
Place in the larger work: The third song of six in the song cycle called "6 Sorrow Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems, which includes 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"
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.
Notes: The song cycle was arranged with string quartet accompaniment by Cedric Sharpe (British, 1891-1978). (Gooch and Thatcher 4727)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4727
Cataloguer: Megan McKague, University of Ottawa
Record: CRM-songohroses-coleridge-taylor
File(s): CRM-songohroses-coleridge-taylor-low.pdf; CRM-songofroses-coleridge-taylor-high-p8.pdf
"Unmindful of the Roses" [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]
First line of lyrics: Unmindful of the roses
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: four sharps
Place in the larger work: The fifth song of six in the song cycle called "6 Sorrow Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems, which includes 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"
Notes: Also published separately. This one song is also available with orchestra accompaniment. The song cycle was arranged with string quartet accompaniment by Cedric Sharpe (British, 1891-1978). (Gooch and Thatcher 4676) Also arranged "for medium voice and orchestra" (de Lerma)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4676
Cataloguer: Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
Record: CRM-oneseasidegrave-coleridge-taylor
File(s): CRM-oneseasidegrave-coleridge-taylor-low.pdf; CRM-oneseasidegrave-coleridge-taylor-high.pdf
"Too late for love" [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]
First line of lyrics: Too late for love, too late for joy,
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: two flats
Rossetti poem(s): "The Prince's Progress"
Place in the larger work: The sixth song of six in the song cycle called "6 Sorrow Songs," settings of Christina Rossetti poems, which includes 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"
Notes about the text: Setting of the lines beginning with "Too late for love, too late for you" from the poem "The Prince's Progress."
Notes: The song cycle was arranged with string quartet accompaniment by Cedric Sharpe (British, 1891-1978). (Gooch and Thatcher 4689) Also arranged for "for medium voice & piano." (de Lerma)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4689
Record: CRM-princesprogress-coleridge-taylor
File(s): CRM-princesprogress-coleridge-taylor-low.pdf; CRM-princesprogress-coleridge-taylor-high.pdf
"She sat and sang alway" [Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]
First line of lyrics: She sat and sang alway
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: three sharps
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("She sat and sang alway")
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"
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).
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4731
File(s): CRM-songshesat-coleridge-taylor-low.pdf; CRM-songshesat-coleridge-taylor-high.pdf
"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
initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
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).
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: "Gently rocking (a la Sarabande)"; quarter note = 86
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."
Martinson, Joel; music (American, born 1960)
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."
4 pages (pp. 8-11); performance time 3 minutes and 50 seconds
Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-martinson
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).
Tempo markings: "Slow"; quarter note = 52
3 pages (pp. 12-14); performance time 2 minutes and 45 seconds
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"
"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."
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
"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
Sargon, Simon A.; music (American, born in India, 1938)
musical score: New York Public Library, New York
"© Copyright 2000 by Simon A. Sargon Dallas, Texas 75201 All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A."
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."
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: Some are laughing, some are weeping
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
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)
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 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).
Other data reference(s): "Compositions." Joelmartinson.com, https://www.joelmartinson.com/compositions/. 7 February 2020.
"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
"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
Cataloguer: Van A. Mantha-Ware, University of Ottawa
"Copyright, 1917, by J. Fischer & Bro. British Copyright Secured"
"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.
Cataloguer: Mary Arseneau, University of Ottawa
Part of: "3 Sad Songs of Christina Rossetti"
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.
"When I am dead my dearest" [Joel Weiss]
First line of lyrics: When I am dead my dearest
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.
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.
"When I Am Dead My Dearest" [Helen Pyke]
Pyke, Helen [Lucas]; music (English, 1905-1954)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4778
Cataloguer: Stephanie Malette, University of Ottawa
musical score: Extramural Library, University of Birmingham, Birmingham.
"Copyright MCMXLVIII by Elkin & Co. Ltd."