Songs in Time of War

Song Cycle by Alec Roth (b. 1948) 

for tenor, violin, harp and guitar

Words by Vikram Seth after the Chinese poet Du Fu, music by Alec Roth

1. Thoughts while Travelling at Night
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Light breeze on the fine grass
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Thoughts while Travelling at Night", copyright ©

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2. Grieving for the Young Prince
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
From Changan walls white-headed crows took flight
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Grieving for the Young Prince", copyright ©

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3. The Visitor
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
South and north of my house lies springtime water
 [ ... ]

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4. A Fine Lady
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
There is a lady matchless in her beauty
 [ ... ]

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5. Dreaming of Li Bai
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The pain of death's farewells grows dim
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Dreaming of Li Bai", copyright ©

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6. Moonlit Night
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
In Fuzhou, far away, my wife is watching
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Moonlit Night", copyright ©

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7. An Autumn Meditation
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I've heard it said Changan is like a chessboard, where
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "An Autumn Meditation", copyright ©

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8. The Old Cypress Tree at the Temple of Zhu‑ge Liang
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Before the temple stands an ancient cypress tree
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "The Old Cypress Tree at the Temple of Zhu-ge Liang", copyright ©

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9. Spring Scene in Time of War
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The state lies ruined; hills and streams survive
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Spring Scene in Time of War", copyright ©

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10. To Wei Ba, who has Lived Away from the Court
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Like stars that rise when the others have set
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "To Wei Ba, who has Lived Away from the Court", copyright ©

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11. Ballad of the Army Carts
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Carts rattle and squeak
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Ballad of the Army Carts", copyright ©

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12. Thoughts while Travelling at Night
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Light breeze on the fine grass
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by Vikram Seth (b. 1952), "Thoughts while Travelling at Night", copyright ©

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view

This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.
Total word count: 1678