Songs of the Sea
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$20.00
$10.00 - $20.00
per item
for soprano, baritone, and piano
original text by Jonathan Posthuma
Duration: 14'
Premiere: Dordt College, February 18, 2011
original text by Jonathan Posthuma
I. Aria "The Wife's Plea"
II. Ballad "The Sailor's Lament"
III. Finale "Recitative and Duet"
Duration: 14'
Premiere: Dordt College, February 18, 2011
Emily Hageman, soprano; Eric Spoelstra, tenor; Krista De Vries, piano
Program Notes:
Comprised of three short movements that tell the story of two lovers' struggle against the forces of the stars and the sea, "Songs of the Sea" is blatantly romantic, in both content and genre, but still a touching expression of a classic (if not overdone) storyline. The first two movements express the individual emotional struggles of the wife and husband in their separation, one on land, the other at sea. The finale brings them back together, recognizing the tragedy of their fate as they move on separately but still understanding their strong love.
Lyrics
I. Aria: The Wife’s Plea
The stars above the sea they grow cold and black.
They are no more our guide.
No more our guide in the night!
In the darkness waves eternal roar,
Swallowing the hopes of those on shore.
Upon the sea,
My love may be no more.
For when he left for sea he said he would come back.
He would be by my side.
Could he have died in the fight?
In our parting hours a promise sworn,
That our oath to love would not be torn.
He took to sea;
His ship left me on shore.
And as the years passed I'd see the ships return.
I’d look for and wait for my love.
I’d look for and wait for my love,
But he would never come.
Oh stars! Please give to me the hope that I lack.
Shine over me tonight.
And let your light be his guide.
In the dark of night his ship will roam
If your brightness cannot bring him home.
Your light has been darkened
And makes my love grow cold.
I pray that my love will not grow cold.
II. Ballad: The Sailor’s Lament
I sailed the seas looking for a sailor’s home.
I’m looking for a sailor’s home.
On ev’ry sea waves would toss me to and fro.
But even more, I’d look to home.
For there my love sat singing
Her songs, her songs of home.
Not songs of the cold dark sea,
But songs of her love for me.
When storms would come darkening the skies above,
That homeward shore shone bright at home.
Her fire warms any sailor’s ice cold hand.
I’m coming for the homeward land!
Where still my love sits singing
Her songs, her songs of home.
Not songs of the cold dark sea,
But songs of her love for me.
Oh, songs of her love for me!
When I came home leaving darkest seas behind,
I found a home, a home, but not a home of mine!
The sea can chill any sailor’s heart to stone;
But cannot kill like did my home.
III. Finale: Recitative and Duet
Alone: for one fully year, waiting and waiting,
Counting the days without him.
Alone: another year, waiting and watching,
Living each day without him.
Loneliness brings hope. Loneliness brings tears.
But loneliness can fill your heart with doubt.
Then loneliness reminds you of your darkest fears,
And you decide to live without him.
And once you’ve lived without him
And built a home so you won’t be alone,
Then suddenly he appears beside you
And all you hopes and dreams are left to fate.
When suddenly he appears beside you,
You realize your love has come too late.
Oh please forgive me. For I, I should have waited for you (Yes my love!)
and spent a lifetime waiting for you, my love!
We made a promise of love, my love (I know, my love!)
But promises broken are through, my love! (You, my love, its you)
You, my love, It’s true! (It’s true, my love, it’s true!)
Our love was true. (I beg you to forgive me.)
Our love was destiny waiting.
Our love was born in the stars but torn by the sea.
That love should be ours. (And so please forgive me.)
How can I forgive you? Each day, each day I waited at sea.
I spent a lifetime waiting for you. (Yes, my love!)
I always looked to home. (I was alone and afraid, my love!)
I dreamed that I’d see you singing. (If I had known how to wait, my love! Wait, my love!)
I see you now, but you have a new love beginning. (Forgive me, love.)
You want forgiveness? Fine, here I forgive you and go. (No, my love!)
I’ll spend a lifetime waiting alone, my love! (Know that I always loved you!)
Our love was true! (Living at sea all alone, my love!)
Our love was destiny waiting. (Finding a love of my own to love!)
Our love was born in the stars but torn by the sea.
(My love was born by the sea and torn by the stars.)
That love should be ours, so please forgive me. (And so forgive me!)
I’ll go! So please forgive me. And so please forgive me.
Full Score
Comprised of three short movements that tell the story of two lovers' struggle against the forces of the stars and the sea, "Songs of the Sea" is blatantly romantic, in both content and genre, but still a touching expression of a classic (if not overdone) storyline. The first two movements express the individual emotional struggles of the wife and husband in their separation, one on land, the other at sea. The finale brings them back together, recognizing the tragedy of their fate as they move on separately but still understanding their strong love.
Lyrics
I. Aria: The Wife’s Plea
The stars above the sea they grow cold and black.
They are no more our guide.
No more our guide in the night!
In the darkness waves eternal roar,
Swallowing the hopes of those on shore.
Upon the sea,
My love may be no more.
For when he left for sea he said he would come back.
He would be by my side.
Could he have died in the fight?
In our parting hours a promise sworn,
That our oath to love would not be torn.
He took to sea;
His ship left me on shore.
And as the years passed I'd see the ships return.
I’d look for and wait for my love.
I’d look for and wait for my love,
But he would never come.
Oh stars! Please give to me the hope that I lack.
Shine over me tonight.
And let your light be his guide.
In the dark of night his ship will roam
If your brightness cannot bring him home.
Your light has been darkened
And makes my love grow cold.
I pray that my love will not grow cold.
II. Ballad: The Sailor’s Lament
I sailed the seas looking for a sailor’s home.
I’m looking for a sailor’s home.
On ev’ry sea waves would toss me to and fro.
But even more, I’d look to home.
For there my love sat singing
Her songs, her songs of home.
Not songs of the cold dark sea,
But songs of her love for me.
When storms would come darkening the skies above,
That homeward shore shone bright at home.
Her fire warms any sailor’s ice cold hand.
I’m coming for the homeward land!
Where still my love sits singing
Her songs, her songs of home.
Not songs of the cold dark sea,
But songs of her love for me.
Oh, songs of her love for me!
When I came home leaving darkest seas behind,
I found a home, a home, but not a home of mine!
The sea can chill any sailor’s heart to stone;
But cannot kill like did my home.
III. Finale: Recitative and Duet
Alone: for one fully year, waiting and waiting,
Counting the days without him.
Alone: another year, waiting and watching,
Living each day without him.
Loneliness brings hope. Loneliness brings tears.
But loneliness can fill your heart with doubt.
Then loneliness reminds you of your darkest fears,
And you decide to live without him.
And once you’ve lived without him
And built a home so you won’t be alone,
Then suddenly he appears beside you
And all you hopes and dreams are left to fate.
When suddenly he appears beside you,
You realize your love has come too late.
Oh please forgive me. For I, I should have waited for you (Yes my love!)
and spent a lifetime waiting for you, my love!
We made a promise of love, my love (I know, my love!)
But promises broken are through, my love! (You, my love, its you)
You, my love, It’s true! (It’s true, my love, it’s true!)
Our love was true. (I beg you to forgive me.)
Our love was destiny waiting.
Our love was born in the stars but torn by the sea.
That love should be ours. (And so please forgive me.)
How can I forgive you? Each day, each day I waited at sea.
I spent a lifetime waiting for you. (Yes, my love!)
I always looked to home. (I was alone and afraid, my love!)
I dreamed that I’d see you singing. (If I had known how to wait, my love! Wait, my love!)
I see you now, but you have a new love beginning. (Forgive me, love.)
You want forgiveness? Fine, here I forgive you and go. (No, my love!)
I’ll spend a lifetime waiting alone, my love! (Know that I always loved you!)
Our love was true! (Living at sea all alone, my love!)
Our love was destiny waiting. (Finding a love of my own to love!)
Our love was born in the stars but torn by the sea.
(My love was born by the sea and torn by the stars.)
That love should be ours, so please forgive me. (And so forgive me!)
I’ll go! So please forgive me. And so please forgive me.
Full Score