Who says That it's by my desire, This separation, this living so far from you? My dress still smells of the [lavender you gave me]1: My hand still holds the letter [you]2 sent. Round my waist I wear a double sash: I dream that it binds us both with [a]3 same-heart knot. Did not you know that people hide their love, Like [the]4 flower that seems too precious to be picked?
Five Chinese Songs
Song Cycle by Lennox Randal Francis Berkeley, Sir (1903 - 1989)
1. People hide their love  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), "People hide their love", appears in Translations from the Chinese, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., first published 1941
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty (464 - 549) [text unavailable]
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Berkeley: "perfume that you wore"
2 Berkeley: "that you"
3 Berkeley: "the"
4 Berkeley: "a"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. The autumn wind  [sung text checked 1 time]
Autumn wind rises; white clouds fly. Grass and trees wither; geese go south. Orchids all in bloom; chrysanthemums smell sweet. I think of my lovely lady; I never can forget. Floating pagoda boat crosses Fen river; Across the mid-stream white waves rise. Flute and drum keep time [to the sound of the sower's song]1; Amidst revel and feasting sad thoughts come -- Youth's years how few, age how sure.
Authorship:
- by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969), "The autumn wind", first published 1946
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (156 BCE - 87 BCE) [text unavailable]
See other settings of this text.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Britten: "to sound of rower's song"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. Dreaming of a dead lady  [sung text checked 1 time]
"I heard at night your long sighs And knew that you were thinking of me." As she spoke, the doors of Heaven opened, Our souls conversed and I saw her face. She set me a pillow to rest on; She brought me meat and drink. I stood beside her where she lay, But suddenly woke and she was not there. And none knew how my soul was torn, How the tears fell surging over my breast.
Authorship:
- by Arthur Waley (1889 - 1969)
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Shên-Yo (441 - 513) [text unavailable]
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]4. Late spring  [sung text checked 1 time]
Here in Lo-yang spring tarries [ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Robert Kotewall , copyright ©
- by Norman L. Smith , copyright ©
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Yang Knang [text unavailable]
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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.5. The riverside village  [sung text checked 1 time]
My fishing done, I have returned, but do not moor my boat [ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Robert Kotewall , copyright ©
- by Norman L. Smith , copyright ©
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Sikong Shu (720 - 790), "江村即事"
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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.