by Helen Hay Whitney (1876 - 1944)
Music
Language: English
Music has opened her hands, Through fingers her jewels are falling, Fingers so delicate slender, Pale as the ghost of a flower. Jewels of crimson, the life Ebbing from hearts that are broken, Roses and wine and red sunsets, Flames of undying desire. Jewels of azure, the sea Dreaming of stars, and the morning Dancing with life, then the silence Blue of mysterious caves. Jewels of green, and the grass Lifts up its hands to the summer, Hiding insidious serpents, Fair as the sweets that are sin. Jewels more bright than the sun Music lets fall from her fingers. We who have stood in the shadow-- How may we die for her sake?
B. Fairchild sets stanzas 1-3, 5
Text Authorship:
- by Helen Hay Whitney (1876 - 1944), "Music" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Blair Fairchild (1877 - 1933), "Music", op. 19 no. 3, stanzas 1-3,5 [medium voice and piano], confirmed with a 1989 edition, Recital Publications, Huntsville, TX [ sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-04-27
Line count: 20
Word count: 113