大和調べ = Yamata Shirabe = Art Songs of Japan

Song Cycle by Gertrude Ross (1889 - 1957)

1. Old Samurai Prayer  [sung text not yet checked]

Subtitle: Andante

Language: English 
May the Springs purely flow 
And sickness cease;
May victory crown our House 
And treasure-stores increase;
Evil no longer grow, 
And all the world know peace!

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Confirmed with Clara A. Walsh, The Master-Singers of Japan, Murray, 1914


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

2. Butterfly  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Butterfly, butterfly !  light upon a Na-leaf, pray!
Or if Na-leaf tempt you not, 
On my hand  a light and sway
Hand and Na-leaf both are nigh —
Light up on one, butterfly!

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Confirmed with Clara A. Walsh, The Master-Singers of Japan, Murray, 1914


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

3. Fireflies
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Fireflies, Fireflies, 
Already sparkling, and it is not yet dark!
Ah the Fireflies!
they hide themselves in the moonlight!
When the water grasses 
Appear to grow dark,  the Fireflies begin to fly!

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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

4. Love‑Lay Indited by the Mikado Temmu  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Lo! on Mikane's heights 
In fair Yoshino's Land. 
Tireless the snow a lights on winding mountain ways;
There the fierce-driven rain
Ever its rage displays
So. just as ceaselessly,
Snow and rain fall, 
Dwell all my thoughts on thee 
Loved above all!

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Confirmed with Clara A. Walsh, The Master-Singers of Japan, Murray, 1914


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

5. Slumber Song of Izumo  [sung text not yet checked]

Subtitle: Andantino

Language: English 
Sleep, baby, sleep! On mountains steep 
The children of the hare are straying.
Why are their soft brown ears so long and slender,
Peeping above the rocks where they are playing?

Because their mother, ere they yet were born,
Ate the Loquat leaves in the dewy morn,
And the bamboo grass long and slender--
That's why the ears of baby-hares are long!
Sleep, baby, sleep! to the lilt of my song!

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Confirmed with Clara A. Walsh, The Master-Singers of Japan, 1914.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

6. Fuji  [sung text not yet checked]

Subtitle: (Ode to the Mountain Fujiyama). Lento molto Nobile - Andante maestoso

Language: English 
A thousand times I gaze upon thy form,
A thousand times — and each more wonderful !

Swift, with the drifting clouds, tumultuous storm, 
The driving winds — so dost thou smile or frown — 
Yet always beauteous, whether storm or shine, 
O magic Mountain ! Fuji the Divine !

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Confirmed with Clara A. Walsh, The Master-Singers of Japan, Murray, 1914, p.74


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 250