Four Nocturnes

Song Cycle by Gardner Read (1913 - 2005)

1. When Moonlight Falls
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
When moonlight falls on the water
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

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.

2. The unknown God
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Far up the dim twilight fluttered
  Moth-wings of vapour and flame:
The lights danced over the mountains,
  Star after star they came.
 
The lights grew thicker unheeded,
  For silent and still were we;
Our hearts were drunk with a beauty
  Our eyes could never see.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. A White Blossom
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
A fragile bud, as white as jade
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

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.

4. The moon
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Thy beauty haunts me heart and soul,
Oh, thou fair Moon, so close and bright;
Thy beauty makes me like the child
That cries aloud to own thy light:
The little child that lifts each arm
To press thee to her bosom warm.

Though there are birds that sing this night
With thy white beams across their throats,
Let my deep silence speak for me
More than for them their sweetest notes:
Who worships thee till music fails,
Is greater than thy nightingales.

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 249