As one who hangs down-bending from the side Of a slow-moving boat, upon the breast Of a still water, solacing himself With such discoveries as his eye can make Beneath him in the bottom of the deep, Sees many beauteous sights -- weeds, fishes, flowers, Grots, pebbles, roots of trees, and fancies more, Yet often is perplexed and cannot part The shadow from the substance, rocks and sky, Mountains and clouds, reflected in the depth Of the clear flood, from things which there abide In their true dwelling; now is crossed by gleam Of his own image, by a sunbeam now, And wavering motions sent he knows not whence, Impediment that make his task more sweet; Such pleasant office have I long pursued Incumbent o'er the surface of past time.
To be sung upon the water
Song Cycle by Dominick Argento (1927 - 2019)
1. Prologue: Shadow And Substance  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven2. The Lake At Evening  [sung text checked 1 time]
Clouds, lingering yet, extend in solid bars Through the grey west; and lo! These waters, steeled By breezeless air to smoothest polish, yield A vivid repetition of the stars; Jove, Venus and the ruddy crest of Mars Amid his fellows beauteously revealed At happy distance from earth's groaning field, Where ruthless mortals wage incessant wars. Is it a mirror? -- or the nether Sphere Opening to view the abyss in which she feeds Her own calm fires? -- But [list]1! a voice is near; Great Pan himself low-whispering through the reeds, 'Be thankful, thou; for, if unholy deeds Ravage the world, tranquility is here!'
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Argento: "listen"
Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven
3. Music On The Water  [sung text checked 1 time]
Lutes and voices down th' enchanted woods Steal, and compose the oar-forgotten floods, While Evening's solemn bird melodious weeps, Heard, by star-spotted bays, beneath the steeps; Slow glides the sail along th' illumined shore, And steals into the shade the lazy oar. Soft bosoms breathe around contagious sighs And amourous music on the water dies.
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven4. Fair Is The Swan  [sung text checked 1 time]
Fair is the Swan, whose majesty, prevailing O'er breezeless water, on Locarno's Lake, Bears him on while proudly sailing He leaves behind a moon-illuminated wake: - Behold! -- as with a gushing impulse heaves That downy prow, and softly cleaves The mirror of the crystal flood, Vanish inverted hill, and shadowy wood, And pendent rocks, where'er in gliding state, Winds the mute Creature without visible Mate Or Rival, save the Queen of night Showering down a silver light, From heaven, upon her chosen Favourite!
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven5. In Remembrance Of Schubert  [sung text checked 1 time]
O glide, fair stream! For ever so, Thy quiet soul on all bestowing, Till all our minds for ever flow As thy deep waters now are flowing. Vain thought! -- Yet be as now thou art, That in thy waters may be seen The image of a poet's heart, How bright, how solemn, how serene! Now let us, as we float along, For him suspend the dashing oar; And pray that never child of song May know that Poet's sorrows more. How calm! how still! the only sound, The dripping of the oar suspended!
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven6. Hymn Near the Rapids  [sung text checked 1 time]
Jesu! bless our slender Boat, By the current swept along; Loud its threatenings -- let them not Drown the music of a song; Breathed thy mercy to implore, Where these troubled waters roar! Saviour, for our warning, seen Bleeding on that precious Rood; If, while through the meadows green Gently wound the peaceful flood, We forgot Thee, do not Thou Disregard Thy Suppliants now! Hither, like yon ancient Tower Watching o'er the River's bed, Fling the shadow of thy power, Else we sleep among the dead; Thou who trod'st the billowy sea, Shield us in our jeopardy! Guide our Bark among the waves; Through the rocks our passage smooth; Where the whirlpool frets and raves Let Thy love its anger soothe; All our hope is placed in Thee; Miserere Domine!
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven7. The Lake At Night  [sung text checked 1 time]
Sweet are the sounds that mingle from afar, Heard by calm lakes, as peeps the folding star, Where the duck dabbles 'mid the rustling sedge, And feeding pike starts from the water's edge, Or the swan stirs the reeds, his neck and mill Wetting, that drip upon the water still; And now, on every side, the surface breaks Into blue spots, and slowly lengthening streaks; Here, plots of sparkling water tremble bright With thousand thousand twinkling points of light: And now the whole wide lake in deep repose Is hushed, and like a burnished mirror glows.
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven8. Epilogue: De Profundis  [sung text checked 1 time]
The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not. -- Great God! I'd rather be A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea; Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.
Authorship:
- by William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)
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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven