New Feature Alert


It’s now easier than ever to see both the author's and the composer's versions of a text!

After more than a year in development, I'm thrilled to announce that we've finally implemented the ability to view "sung texts" with all the modifications by a given composer already applied. Over 10,000 pages will benefit from this improvement. It should especially benefit those of you who need accurate texts for concert programs and CD booklets.

I'm excited to share this new feature with all of you and hope that it enhances your experience on the LiederNet Archive. Take some time to explore and enjoy! — Emily

×
by Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

Helas
Language: English 
To drift with every passion till my soul
Is a stringed lute on which can winds can play,
Is it for this that I have given away
Mine ancient wisdom and austere control?
Methinks my life is a twice-written scroll
Scrawled over on some boyish holiday
With idle songs for pipe and virelay,
Which do but mar the secret of the whole.
Surely there was a time I might have trod
The sunlit heights, and from life's dissonance
Struck one clear chord to reach the ears of God:
Is that time dead? lo! with a little rod
I did but touch the honey of romance -
And must I lose a soul's inheritance?

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-09-11
Line count: 14
Word count: 113