Scenes from the Life of a Martyr

Oratorio by Undine Eliza Anna Smith (1904 - 1989), as Undine Smith Moore

0. Prologue
 (Sung text for setting by U. Smith)
 Matches base text

Language: English 
…What is precious is never to forget
 [ ... ]

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

Set by Undine Eliza Anna Smith (1904 - 1989), as Undine Smith Moore, 1981 [ narrator, soli, chorus and orchestra ]
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1. Whenever a People is Oppressed They Wait in Hope
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
As it was in the old days, so it is now
 [ ... ]

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2. His Mother Rocked Him Gently

— Tacet —

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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3. Songs at the Cradle, No.1
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
His mother rocked him gently and slow
 [ ... ]

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4. Songs at the Cradle, No. 2
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
His Mother rocked him, oh, how she rocked him
 [ ... ]

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5. Songs at the Cradle, No. 3
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Oh she rocked him
 [ ... ]

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6. Ring Game
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
O happy childhood—In the clay—
 [ ... ]

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7. The Voice of My Beloved  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh
The voice of my beloved! Behold,
he cometh leaping upon the mountains,
skipping upon the hills.
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart:
behold, he standeth behind our wall
he looketh forth at the windows,
shewing himself through the lattice.
my beloved spake, and said unto me...

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Researcher for this page: Ashly Evans

8. Arise My Love, My Fair One  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Arise my love, my fair one, and come away.
O, my dove that art in the clefts of the rocks, in the
covert of the steep place,
Let me see thy countenance
O my dove, Let me hear thy voice,
For sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely.

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Solomon Chapter 2:13


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9. Set me as a Seal on Thy Heart  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Set me as a seal on thy heart,
Set me as a seal on thy arm,
For love is strong as death,
Many waters cannot quench love
Neither can the floods drown it

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Solomon Chapter 8


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10. He Hath Anointed Me  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Like the child, Samuel, of old
 [ ... ]

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11. I Never Felt Such Love in My Soul Before  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
I never felt such love in my soul before. 
All the days of my life, ever since I was born,
I never felt such love in my soul before.
I never heard a man speak like this man before.
All the days of my life, ever since I was born,
I never heard a man speak like this man before.

The people loved him.
Crowds followed him.
He was clothed with honors.
But, far off; far off came
Rumors of evil; Shadows of trouble.
“There ariseth a little cloud
Out of the sea, like a man’s hand.”
But this man knew in whom
He had Believed.
In quietness and confidence
He spoke to his God.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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12. Lord, Thou knowest  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Tenor
Lord, Thou knowest,
I have tried to do justly
and love mercy
and walk humbly before our God.
Lord, Thou knowest,
All the days of my life
I have loved peace and freedom for the bondsman.
I have believed that “love never faileth,”
I have not sought riches,
I have not sought honors;
Lord, Thou knowest,
I have not sought fame.
But Thou hast blest me to hear the voice of rejoicing
and salvation in the tabernacle.
Thou hast blest me to see the people come up after
me with great joy! O, Thou my God!

Narrator:
This was a good man –
Always remember,
This was a man who spoke.
In the days of moral crisis
He made choices.
As was said of the prophets of old:
“The word of the Lord
In this mouth was Truth.”
And thus, after many days,
Evil times came upon him.
His enemies rose against him.
They considered together how they
Might destroy him.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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

13. Martin’s Lament  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Now, Lord, I have come down from the mountain,
down from the mountain top.
I have journeyed from city to city, 
And I have seen the iniquity of the cities of the plain.
Evil days are upon me
When I have sought to aid thy suffering servants
Enemies have arisen against me.
Oppressors seek after my soul.
Oh God, How many are them that hate me!

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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14. Oh God, How Many Are Them That Hate Me Sung Text

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Chorus:
Oh God,
How many are them that hate me.

Narrator:
Strangers are risen up against me. 
Oppressors seek after my soul. 
I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Chorus:
Oh God,
How many are them that hate me.

Narrator:
My heart is sore pained within me; 
and the terror of death are fallen upon me.

Chorus:
Oh God,
How many are them that hate me.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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


Know that love has chosen you
 [ ... ]

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Confirmed with Robert Hayden, Words in the mourning time, London : October House, 1970, p.47

Note: in Undine Moore's setting, the Narrator is given this text.


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

15. They Tell Me Martin Is Dead  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
Chorus:
They tell me Martin is dead!
Have they killed him?
They say Martin is dead!
Is it true, is it true Martin is dead?
They have killed him.
Our leader is slain! Oh God!
He said death would come.
A shot rang out on the air.
His blood runs red in the street. They have killed him.
Oh! Yes! Martin is dead!
Kill’d him! Kill’d him! Kill’d him! Martin is dead!

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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

16. Tell All My Father’s People
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Woe./ Tell all my father’s people
 [ ... ]

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Total word count: 1339