"Before the Paling of the Stars" [Harold Barker]
First line of lyrics: Before the paling of the stars
genre: song|anthem|Christmas music|choral music|sacred music
Rossetti poem(s): "A Christmas Carol" ("Before the paling of the stars")
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; text (English, 1830-1894)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4260
Reference: Gooch, Bryan N.S. and David S. Thatcher. Musical Settings of Early and Mid-Victorian Literature: A Catalogue. New York: Garland, 1979.
Cataloguer: Alicia Duffley and Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
"Before the Paling of the Stars. Carol for S.A.T.B., unaccompanied. [Words by] C. Rossetti.." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/497628411. Accessed 10 September 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.
First line of lyrics: Come to me in the silence of the night
Tempo markings: "Larghetto"; quarter note = ca. 60
Recordings: "Echo (SATB Choir) - by Bethany Meyer." Performance for promotional purposes with score, YouTube, uploaded by Hal Leonard Choral, 27 Feb. 2018, https://youtu.be/jisqeRmC1pY.
Dedication: "With special thanks to Deke Polifka"
Meyer, Bethany; music (American, active 2017)
Cataloguer: Jazmine Clement and Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Echo." JW Pepper, https://www.jwpepper.com/Echo/10843157.item#/submit. Accessed 24 Apr. 2020
"© Copyright 2017 by HAL LEONARD LCC. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved."
12 pages; performance time ca. 4 minutes and 20 seconds
First line of lyrics: Where innocent bright-eyed daisies are
Rossetti poem(s): "'Where innocent bright-eyed daisies are'"
Notes about the text: In the song, the word "Against" is used instead of "Out of" at the beginning of the last line of the poem.
Tempo markings: "Andante"; quarter note = 152
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4863
Reference: Ezust, Emily. The LiederNet Archive. http://www.lieder.net/lieder/index.html
Cataloguer: Blake Fong, University of Ottawa
Musical score: The Progressive Music Series: Teacher's Manual. Silver, Burdett and Company, 1919, p. 186. Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
First line of lyrics: Two doves upon the selfsame branch
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("Two doves upon the selfsame branch")
Composition history: "By kind permission of Messrs Macmillan."
Performance history: Advertised as sung by Miss Spenser Jones in the 1 August 1884 issue of the Musical Times (487). Performed at the Charterhouse School in 1886 (the Carthusian March 163). (Ives DM48)
Notes: According to a review in the 6 October 1882 of the Literary World (219), the setting is for contralto voice in E (Ives DM48).
Addison, Robert Brydges; music (British, 1854-1920)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM48
Reference: Ives, Maura. Christina Rossetti: A Descriptive Bibliography. New Castle, DE: Oak Knoll Press, 2011.
Cataloguer: Julia Farnsworth and Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
"Love came down at Christmas" [Laurence Ager]
genre: Christmas music|choral music|song|sacred music
Notes: Rossetti's song is part of a collection called "Choir Series." It is number 375.
Ager, Laurence; music (English, 1904-1989)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4522
Other data reference(s): Record for "Love came down at Christmas. Anthem ... Words by Christina Rossetti. [S.A.T.B.]." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/497088179. Accessed 4 Nov. 2018.
Cataloguer: Jennifer Frederick, University of Ottawa
"Goblin Market: Cantata" [Emanuel Aguilar]
First line of lyrics: Morning and evening
Notes about the text: "The Words adapted by permission of the Authoress, Christina Rossetti" (title page). Rossetti met personally with Emanuel Aguilar to discuss the textual revisions to her poem, and she gave her explicit approval to the adapted and abridged text of “Goblin Market” that serves as Aguilar's libretto. The libretto is thus an authorially approved variant text of "Goblin Market."
Tempo markings: "Allegretto"; quarter note = 132
Performance instructions: Cantata for solo voice, chorus, and piano, consisting of an instrumental introduction and seven numbers: "Introduction" (p. 1); 1. Chorus with Solos, "Come Buy, Come Buy" (pp. 2-17); 2. Duet [Lizzie and Laura], "Dear, You Should Not Stay So Late" (pp. 18-22); 3. Chorus, "Sleep Song" (pp. 23-25); 4. Solo [Laura], "Early in the Morning" (pp. 26-29); 5. Solo [Lizzie], "'Woe is Me' (A week later.)" (pp. 30-32); 6. A--Appearance of the Goblins, B--Chorus with Solo [Lizzie] "'Look at our apples' (Lizzie's Interview With the Goblins)" (pp. 33-44); 7. [Lizzie, Laura and Chorus], Finale, "Laura! Come now in the Garden" (pp. 45-58).
Aguilar, Emanuel Abraham; music (English, 1824-1904)
Rossetti, Christina Georgina; adapted text (English, 1830-1894)
Aguilar, Emanuel Abraham; adapted text (English, 1824-1904)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM39; Gooch and Thatcher 4430
Cataloguer: Mary Arseneau, University of Ottawa
Musical score: Firestone Library, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
File(s): CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar.pdf; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-covertitlepage.jpg; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-titlepage.jpg; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-index-p1.jpg; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-p14-top.jpg; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-pp16-17.jpg; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-p21.jpg; CRM-goblinmarket-aguilar-p22.jpg
"If all were rain" [R.F. Martin Akerman]
First line of lyrics: If all were rain and never sun
Rossetti poem(s): "'If all were rain and never sun'"
Composition history: This song was composed for The Year Book Press Series book called "Kikirikee: a sequel to Kookoorookoo" (1925), the second after “Kookoorookoo and Other Poems”. “Kikirikee: a sequel to Kookoorookoo” contains 34 songs, each setting a poem from Rossetti's collection “Sing-Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book," "words used by permission of Messrs. MacMillan And Co. Ltd." The Preface from “Koorookookoo and Other Poems”, the first of the two series, states: "'I will set as many as you like at once.' Such a stimulating remark from an English composer at the head of his profession could not fail to turn the scales in the mind of a hesitating Editor who wondered whether he was right in suggesting the musical treatment of the charming yet simple verses of Christina Rossetti. The Editor at once approached some of the many composers who have already shown through their sound work that there are men in England competent to help our children in forming a native musical appreciation based on contemporary English musical thought. One and all readily and cheerfully gave of their best, and the Editor and Publisher here record their grateful thanks. The Editor believes that the English public will welcome such work, and that the pleasure which the composers were pleased to express in doing the work will be equally felt by the children—grown-up and young—for whom this book is written. A unique 'Contents' page adds a touch of personal interest in the book.” Ives (DM202-DM227) writes that the first “collection originated with Martin Ackerman, the editor of the Year Book Press Music Series.”
Akerman, R. F. Martin; music (British, active 1900-1930s)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM249; Gooch and Thatcher 4483
Cataloguer: Roxanne Lafleur, University of Ottawa
musical score: "If all were rain." Kikirikee: a sequel to Kookoorookoo. London, H. F. W. Deane & Sons The Year Book Press Ltd., 1925, p. 30. New York Public Library, New York.
London: H. F. W. Deane & Sons, The Year Book Press Ltd.
"Copyright, 1925, by H. F. W. Deane & Sons The Year Book Press Ltd., 31 Museum Street, London, W.C.1."
"O wind, why do you never rest?" [Martin Akerman]
First line of lyrics: O wind, why do you never rest?
Rossetti poem(s): "'O wind, why do you never rest'"
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM264; Gooch and Thatcher 4668
musical score: "O wind, why do you never rest?." Kikirikee: a sequel to Kookoorookoo. London, H. F. W. Deane & Sons The Year Book Press Ltd., 1925, pp. 56-57. New York Public Library, New York.
"When I Am Dead, My Dearest" [Gilbert A. Alcock]
Rossetti poem(s): "Song" ("When I am dead, my dearest")
Alcock, Gilbert A.; music (English, 1870-1954)
In reference to the published works below: Gooch and Thatcher 4737
Cataloguer: Van A. Mantha-Ware, University of Ottawa
"I dug and dug amongst the snow" [Walter G. Alcock]
First line of lyrics: I dug and dug amongst the snow
Rossetti poem(s): "'I dug and dug amongst the snow'"
Composition history: This song was composed for The Year Book Press Series book called "Kookoorookoo and Other Poems" (1916). On the title page of the H.F.W. Deane & Sons publication, it states: "Words used by permission of Messrs. Macmillan & Co., Ltd." "Koorookookoo and Other Poems" contains 26 songs, each setting a poem from Rossetti's collection "Sing-Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book." The Preface from “Koorookookoo and Other Poems” states: "'I will set as many as you like at once.' Such a stimulating remark from an English composer at the head of his profession could not fail to turn the scales in the mind of a hesitating Editor who wondered whether he was right in suggesting the musical treatment of the charming yet simple verses of Christina Rossetti. The Editor at once approached some of the many composers who have already shown through their sound work that there are men in England competent to help our children in forming a native musical appreciation based on contemporary English musical thought. One and all readily and cheerfully gave of their best, and the Editor and Publisher here record their grateful thanks. The Editor believes that the English public will welcome such work, and that the pleasure which the composers were pleased to express in doing the work will be equally felt by the children—grown-up and young—for whom this book is written. A unique 'Contents' page adds a touch of personal interest in the book." Ives (DM202-DM227) writes "the collection originated with Martin Ackerman, the editor of the Year Book Press Music Series."
Alcock, Walter Galpin, Sir; music (English, 1861-1947)
In reference to the published works below: Ives DM213; Gooch and Thatcher 4476
musical score: "I dug and dug amongst the snow." Kookoorookoo and Other Songs. London : H.F.W. Deane & Sons The Year Book Press Ltd., 1916, pp. 26-27. Morisset Library, University of Ottawa, Ottawa.
London: The Year Book Press, A. & C. Black Ltd.; London : H. F. W. Deane & Sons The Year Book Press Ltd.
"Copyright, 1916, by The Year Book Press"
First line of lyrics: When I am dead, my dearest
initial sharps/flats: no sharps or flats
Tempo markings: "Mysterious and very delicate"; dotted quarter note = 72
Aldridge, Robert Livingston; music (American, born 1954)
Other data reference(s): Record for "Song." "LoveSongs. Volume I : fifteen songs for voice and piano : high voice." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/754086672. Accessed 3 Feb. 2018.
Cataloguer: Claudia Laugalys, University of Ottawa
musical score: Aldridge, Robert Livingston. "Song." LoveSongs. Volume I: fifteen songs for voice and piano: high voice, Edition Peters, 2011, pp. 61-65. University of Texas Libraries, Austin.
"A birthday" [Robert Livingston Aldridge]
First line of lyrics: My heart is like a singing bird
Composition history: Aldridge attempted to compose each of the songs in his collection "LoveSong" in one day, "striving for a simple, immediate and visceral connection between music and text."
Tempo markings: "Gospel"; quarter note = 60
Performance instructions: Aldridge instructs the text from the second stanza to be sung "more animated, but not accelerating."
Performance history: First performed as part of the song collection "LoveSongs" April 2005 at Peak Performances in Montclair, New Jersey by tenor Stephen Oosting and pianist Robert Spillman.
Notes: The fifth song of sixteen in the song collection "LoveSongs" which includes 1. "My Love in Her Attire" (Anonymous); 1. "Reluctance" (Robert Frost); 3. "When We Two Parted" (Lord Byron); 4. "Young and Old" (Charles Kingsley); 5. "A Birthday" (Christina Rossetti); 6. "Jenny Kissed Me" (Leigh Hunt); 7. "Why Is The Rose So Pale" (Heinrich Heine"); 8. "Gone" (Carl Sandburg); 9. "She Comes Not' (Herbert Trench); 10. "Song" (Christina Rossetti); 11. "Love Despised" (Anonymous); 12. "Beauty and Love" (Andrew Young); 13. "Alms" (Edna St. Vincent Millay); 14. "Wild Nights" (Emily Dickenson); 15. "Of Pearls and Stars" (Heinrich Heine); 16. "Saga Love" (Bee Rawlinson). This song collection can be performed as a cycle, individually, or excerpted in groups.
Other data reference(s): Record for "LoveSongs. Volume I : high voice : fifteen songs for voice and piano." University of Toronto Libraries, https://search.library.utoronto.ca/details?8319195&uuid=973e273d-f7b4-4174-a9ad-a1210bc1be41. Accessed 4 Mar. 2019.
Cataloguer: Sarah Pennington, University of Ottawa
musical score: Aldridge, Robert Livingston. "Song." LoveSongs. Volume I: fifteen songs for voice and piano: high voice, Edition Peters, 2011, pp. 35-40. University of Texas Libraries, Austin.
"Venus's looking glass" [Josef Alexander]
Rossetti poem(s): "Venus's Looking-Glass"
Place in the larger work: The first song of five in the song cycle "Rossettiana," which includes 1. "Venus's looking glass"; 2. "Dream love"; 3. "A pause"; 4. "Moonshine"; 5. "A birthday."
Composition history: "Commissioned by 'The Bohemians' (New York Musicians Club)--for its 75th anniversary 1982" (Record for "Rossettiana : a celebration : song cycle : for soprano and string quartet").
Alexander, Josef; music (American, 1908-1992)
Other data reference(s): Record for "Rossettiana : a celebration : song cycle : for soprano and string quartet." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34170460. Accessed 1 Apr. 2019.
Cataloguer: Emily McConkey, University of Ottawa
Place in the larger work: The second song of five in the song cycle "Rossettiana," which includes 1. "Venus's looking glass"; 2. "Dream love"; 3. "A pause"; 4. "Moonshine"; 5. "A birthday."
Place in the larger work: The third song of five in the song cycle "Rossettiana," which includes 1. "Venus's looking glass"; 2. "Dream love"; 3. "A pause"; 4. "Moonshine"; 5. "A birthday."
Place in the larger work: The fourth song of five in the song cycle "Rossettiana," which includes 1. "Venus's looking glass"; 2. "Dream love"; 3. "A pause"; 4. "Moonshine"; 5. "A birthday."
Place in the larger work: The fifth song of five in the song cycle "Rossettiana," which includes 1. "Venus's looking glass"; 2. "Dream love"; 3. "A pause"; 4. "Moonshine"; 5. "A birthday."
"In the Bleak Mid-Winter" [Richard Allain]
genre: carol|choral music|Christmas music|sacred music|song
instrumentation: a cappella|piano (for rehearsal only)
Rossetti poem(s): "A Christmas Carol" ("In the bleak mid-winter")
Composition history: "Written for Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge."
Allain, Richard; music (British, born 1965)
Other data reference(s): "In The Bleak Mid-Winter." Sheet Music Plus, https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/in-the-bleak-mid-winter-sheet-music/19881806. Accessed 4 June 2019. "Richard Allain." Music Sales Classical, http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/short-bio/Richard-Allain. Accessed 4 June 2019.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "In The Bleak Mid-Winter." Sheet Music Plus, https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/in-the-bleak-mid-winter-sheet-music/19881806. Accessed 4 June 2019.
Record: CRM-christmascarolinthebleak-allain
First line of lyrics: Who has seen the wind
other version 1 - instrumentation: piano
other version 1 - initial sharps/flats: one flat
other version 2 - instrumentation: piano
other version 2 - initial sharps/flats: one flat
Rossetti poem(s): "'Who has seen the wind?'"
Notes about the text: The musical setting adds a repetition of the words "the wind" at the end of the first line in the original texts, and repeats the first two lines twice before moving on to the third line of the text. It goes on to repeat lines three and four of the original text twice. The song follows this same format for the second stanza, except at the end of the last line, it also repeats "the wind is passing by" an additional time. It then adds the following lines where the original text would end: "The wind, the wind is passing by. Oh, who has seen the wind? Oh, who has seen the wind? Oh who has seen the wind? Not I."
Tempo markings: "Mezzo-piano"; dotted quarter note = ca. 66
Performance instructions: "With a flowing motion"
Recordings: "Who Has Seen the Wind?." SSATB, Alfred Music, https://www.alfred.com/who-has-seen-the-wind/p/00-45603/. Accessed 7 Sep. 2021.
Althouse, Jay; music (American, born 1951)
Cataloguer: Elizabeth Whicher, University of Ottawa
Musical score: "Who Has Seen the Wind?." Alfred Music, https://www.alfred.com/who-has-seen-the-wind/p/00-45603/ (SSATB); https://content.alfred.com/catpages/00-45604.pdf (SSAB); https://content.alfred.com/catpages/00-45605.pdf (SSA). Accessed 9 Sep. 2022.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Who Has Seen the Wind?." Alfred Music, https://www.alfred.com/who-has-seen-the-wind/p/00-45603/ (SSATB); https://content.alfred.com/catpages/00-45604.pdf (SSAB); https://content.alfred.com/catpages/00-45605.pdf (SSA). Accessed 9 Sep. 2022.
"Copyright © 2017 by Alfred Music. All Rights Reserved."
11 pages; performance time ca. 3 minutes
First line of lyrics: O Earth, lie heavily upon her eyes
Andrews, H.K. [Herbert Kennedy], Dr.; music (English, 1904-1965)
Other data reference(s): Record for "Rest / the words by Christina Rossetti." British Library, http://explore.bl.uk/BLVU1:LSCOP-ALL:BLL01004173630. Accessed 23 July 2020.
"Copyright in U.S.A. and all countries, 1947, by the Oxford University Press, London."
Review of school performance of "Goblin Market: Cantata" [Aguilar]
Review of a performance of Aguilar's Goblin Market, Cantata at the Hulme Grammar School for Girls, Oldham, on 22 Nov 1912.
"Miscellaneous." The School Music Review, 1 Jan 1913, p. 192.
"For a Dream's Sake / Durch ein Traumbild" [Anonymous]
First line of lyrics: The hope I dream'd of was a dream / Die süsse Hoffnung war ein Traum
Composition history: "By permission of Messrs Macmillan & Co."
Tempo markings: "Adagio espressivo."; quarter note = 52
musical score: New York Public Library, New York
First line of lyrics: Fly away, fly away, over the sea
Rossetti poem(s): "'Fly away, fly away over the sea'"
Composition history: This setting is included in the 1914 book entitled “First Year Music: Rote Songs for Kindergarten and First Year,” edited by Hollis Dann, Mus. D., Professor of Music and Head of the Department of Music at Cornell University. The setting may have been composed by Dann, who writes in the Preface: "This book is intended to furnish suitable and attractive song material for the first year in music, together with directions for the presentation of the same. | The editor's special thanks are due to Miss Laura Bryant, Director of Music, and to the teachers in the Ithaca Schools, for invaluable assistance in trying out material. | Special care has been taken that the accompaniments should be simple and artistic. For expert assistance in this part of the work the editor is indebted to Mr. Arthur Edward Johnstone, who has assumed the task of revision where necessary, or (in certain instances) of providing entirely new accompaniments."
Other data reference(s): First Year Music: Rote Songs for Kindergarten and First Year. W.J. Gage and Company, edited by Hollis Dann, 1914.
musical score: "The Swallow." First Year Music: Rote Songs for Kindergarten and First Year. W.J. Gage and Company, 1914, p. 51. Westminster College, New Wilmington
New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: American Book Company
File(s): CRM-flyawayflyaway-anonymous.pdf
"Wrens and Robins" [arr. Frederick Zuchtmann, music Anschuetz]
First line of lyrics: Wrens and robins in the hedge
Rossetti poem(s): "'Wrens and robins in the hedge'"
Notes: One song of six settings of Christina Rossetti poems that appear in the "New American Music Reader Number Two" by Frederick Zuchtmann published in 1909 by Macmillan. In the introduction, it states that "In General the Aim of Music Reader Number Two is to present attractive songs for practice, to introduce new difficulties, one by one, at suitable intervals, with plenty of drill, and to apply the skill thus gained to the interpretation of songs, the material used for practice being drawn from and leading directly to the song itself, which is thus the source, the basis and the object of practice." (Zuchtmann, p. 6)
Zuchtmann, Frederick; arrangement (American, 1829?-1909)
Other data reference(s): Zuchtmann, Frederick. "Introduction." New American Music Reader Number Two. Macmillan, 1909, pp. 3-6.
Musical score: "Wrens and Robins." New American Music Reader Number Two by Frederick Zuchtmann, Macmillan, 1909, p. 17, no. 24. University of California Libraries, Internet Archives, https://archive.org/details/newamericanmusic02zuchiala/
New York: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd.
"New York, The Macmillan Company. London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd. 1909. All rights reserved." "Copyright, 1903, by Richardson, Smith & Company. Copyright, 1909, by The Macmillan Company."
Record: CRM-wrensandrobins-zuchtmann-anschuetz
File(s): CRM-wrensandrobins-zuchtmann-anschuetz.pdf
Dedication: "Dedicated to the Salt Lake Vocal Artists - Brady Allred, conductor"
Antognini, Ivo; music (Swiss, born 1963)
Other data reference(s): "Remember : SATB a cappella." WorldCat, http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1161998482. Accessed 15 October 2020.
This score is copyright protected. A score can be consulted here: "Remember." J.W. Pepper, https://www.jwpepper.com/Remember/10716024.item#/submit. Accessed 15 October 2020.
Houston: Alliance Music Publications, Inc.
"Copyright © 2017 JEHMS, Inc. A Division of Alliance Music Publications, Inc. P.O. Box 131977. Houston, Texas. 77219-1977 | International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved."