Songs From a Silent Land
Composer: Michael Daugherty
Poets: Emily Dickinson and Christina Rossetti
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Performed with the Indiana Wind Symphony in November 2022
The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, IN
I. Water is Taught by Thirst (1859)
Emily Dickinson (1830-1866; American)
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Water, is taught by thirst.
Land—by the Oceans passed.
Transport—by throe—
Peace—by its battles told—
Love, by Memorial Mold—
Birds, by the Snow.
I Think That the Root of the Wind is Water (1873)
I think that the Root of the Wind is Water—
It would not sound so deep
Were it a Firmamental Product—
Airs no Oceans keep —
Mediterranean intonations—
To a Current’s ear—
There is a maritime conviction
In the Atmosphere—
II. De Profundis (1862)
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894; English)
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Oh why is heaven built so far,
Oh why is earth set so remote?
I cannot reach the nearest star
That hangs afloat.
I would not care to reach the moon,
One round monotonous of change;
Yet even she repeats her tune
Beyond my range.
I never watch the scatter'd fire
Of stars, or sun's far-trailing train,
But all my heart is one desire,
And all in vain:
For I am bound with fleshly bands,
Joy, beauty, lie beyond my scope;
I strain my heart, I stretch my hands,
And catch at hope.
III. Remember (1876)
Christina Rossetti (1830-1894; English)
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.