Program notes

Four Songs from Dead Songs, opus 45e (2010)

1. Buried at Sea

2. Ahead of His Time: Little Jackie, Killed by a Taxi Cab, 1911

3. Peace Perfect Peace

4. Unreconstructed Sentiment [Crumbled Deploration]

Four Songs (opus 45e, 2010) is a reduction for high voice and piano of four of the songs from Dead Songs. Dead Songs (Opus 45, 1991) is a work for soprano, clarinet, cello and piano and consists of nine songs – settings of texts adapted by the composer from epitaphs collected from New South Wales seaside cemeteries at Wombarra, Bulli, South Head and Waverley.

1. Buried at Sea

Gently his voice calleth

Come and rest.

The midnight stars are shining upon his silent grave,

Where sleepeth without dreaming the one we could not save.

Love knows no death,

Spirits meet across the bridge.

 

2. Ahead of His Time: Little Jackie, Killed by a Taxi Cab, 1911

 Our little treasure

Our little joy.

“Here I am where I want to be

In the Haven under the Hill.”

Our little sunbeam

Our darling boy.

“Here I am where I want to be

In the Haven under the Hill.”

Mummie and Daddy’s Pal.

 

3. Peace Perfect Peace

Father and mother safe in the vale

Watch for the boatman, wait for the sail,

Bearing the loved ones over the tide

Into the harbour, near to their side.

“Master Mariner – Dead At Sea.”

 

4. Unreconstructed Sentiment [Crumbled Deploration]

Sadly . . .

A sudden change at God’s . . .

He had not time to . . .

A little longer . . .

. . . we too shall leave,

Oh loved one

[fa]che amoureuse,”

A little while longer . . .

. . . we too shall leave,

For that beautiful shore.

We pray that . . .

. . . with the angels now.

 “Brief mes jours definer.”

© Andrew Schultz, 2010.