Alive in a Moment

Song Cycle by Daron Aric Hagen (b. 1961)

1. Rondo: O What is That Sound [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English

O what is that sound which so thrills the ear
Down in the valley drumming, drumming?
Only the scarlet soldiers, dear,
The soldiers coming.

O what is that light I see flashing so clear
Over the distance brightly, brightly?
Only the sun on their weapons, dear,
As they step lightly.

O what are they doing with all that gear,
What are they doing this morning, morning?
Only their usual manoeuvres, dear,
Or perhaps a warning.

O why have they left the road down there,
Why are they suddenly wheeling, wheeling?
Perhaps a change in their orders, dear,
Why are you kneeling?

O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care,
Haven't they reined their horses, horses?
Why, they are none of them wounded, dear,
None of these forces.

O is it the parson they want, with white hair,
Is it the parson, is it, is it?
No, they are passing his gateway, dear,
Without a visit.

O it must be the farmer that lives so near.
It must be the farmer so cunning, so cunning?
They have passed the farmyard already, dear,
And now they are running.

O where are you going? Stay with me here!
Were the vows you swore deceiving, deceiving?
No, I promised to love you, dear,
But I must be leaving.

O it's broken the lock and splintered the door,
O it's the gate where they're turning, turning;
Their boots are heavy on the floor
And their eyes are burning.

Text Authorship:

by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), "Ballad", from New Verse, December 1934, revised 1945, revised 1958

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Variations: Orpheus

Language: English

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Text Authorship:

by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), "Orpheus"

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3. Song: Epitaph on a Tyrant [sung text not yet checked]

Language: English

Perfection, of a kind, was what he was after,
And the poetry he invented was easy to understand;
He knew human folly like the back of his hand,
And was greatly interested in armies and fleets;
When he laughed, respectable senators burst with laughter,
And when he cried the little children died in the streets.

Text Authorship:

by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), "Epitaph on a tyrant"

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First published New Statesman and Nation, January 1939

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. Interlude: A Moment

— Tacet —

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5. Song: The Composer

Language: English

All the others translate
 . . . . . . . . . .

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Text Authorship:

by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973), "The composer"

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First published in New Writing, Spring 1939

6. Scherzo: In Moments of Joy

Language: English

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Text Authorship:

by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)

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7. Closing Hymn: Alive in a Moment

Language: English

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Text Authorship:

by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)

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Total word count: 298