Five Movements: Songs and Doubles

Song Cycle by Donald Bohlen (b. 1934)

1. The harvest
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I have labored long hours in the vineyard.             
Not, however, for a denarius.             
For nothing.  And this reward:
I am a connoisseur of bitter wine.

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven

2. The harvest (Double)

— Tacet —

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3. Fall, leaves, fall
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow
Blossom where the rose should grow;
I shall sing when night's decay
Ushers in a drearier day.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. Fall, leaves, fall (Double)

— Tacet —

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5. I sing to use the waiting
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I sing to use the waiting, 
My bonnet but to tie, 
And shut the door unto my house; 
No more to do have I, 
  
Till, his best step approaching,
We journey to the day, 
And tell each other how we sang 
To keep the dark away.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • GER German (Deutsch) (Bertram Kottmann) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Ton van der Steenhoven
Total word count: 117