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Four Madrigals

Song Cycle by Ned Rorem (1923 - 2022)

1. Parting
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Truly I want to die
Such was her weeping when she said goodbye
These words her said to me
"What said calamity! Sappho, I leave you most unwillingly"
To her I made reply
"Go with good heart, but try not to forget our love in days gone by.
Else let me call to mind,
If your heart proves unkind,
the soft delightful way you leave behind.
Many a coronet of rose and violet,
Crocus and dell upon your brow you set:
Many a necklace too
Round your soft throat you threw, 
woven with me from buds of ravishing hue,
And often balm you spread of myrrh upon my head
and royal ointment on my hair you shed."

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Based on:

  • a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
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Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

2. Flowers for the Graces

Language: English 
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, copyright ©

Based on:

  • a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
    • Go to the text page.

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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.

3. Love

Language: English 
— This text is not currently
in the database but will be added
as soon as we obtain it. —

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, copyright ©

Based on:

  • a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
    • Go to the text page.

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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.

4. An absent friend  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English 
A glorious goddess in her eyes
 [ ... ]

Text Authorship:

  • by C.M. Brown , copyright ©

Based on:

  • a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE) [text unavailable]
    • Go to the text page.

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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.
Total word count: 210
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