Songs I Sing Around the House: A Student Recital by Trevor McDonald

carthage music department presents

Songs I Sing Around the House A Student Recital by Trevor McDonald accompanied by Melissa Cardamone, piano

Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021 | 2 p.m. | Recital Hall

program There is no intermission Wehmut Die Forelle Die Stille Tu Ch’hai le penne amore There is a Lady Sweet and Kind Valley and the Hill Come Fly With Me

Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Giulio Caccini (1551-1618) Norman Dello Joio (1913-2008) Roger Quilter (1877-1953) James Van Heusen (1913-1990)

Blue Moon

Richard Rodgers (1902-1979)

Love, I Hear

Stephen Sondheim (b. 1930)

Love Sneaks In

David Yazbek (b. 1961)

I’d Rather Be Sailing

William Finn (b. 1952)

thank yous Thank you to Allison Hull, who graciously and expertly coaches me in my voice training. Allison is a passionate and caring teacher- but most importantly, she is a friend that is supportive even in the most difficult circumstances. Thank you also to Sophie Shulman, who will be using her amazing talents to accompany me on guitar.

program notes Wehmut - Melancholy “Wehmut”, written by Robert Schumann, is part of the larger song cycle Leiderkreis: Op. 39, which is based off of the Romantic era poetry of Joseph V. Eichendorff. This collection of compositions puts to song the poetry of Eichendorff’s Intermezzo collection, published in 1840.

Ich kann wohl manchmal singen, Sometimes I may be singing Als ob ich fröhlich sei; As if I were full of joy, Doch heimlich Tränen dringen, But secretly tears are flowing, Da wird das Herz mir frei.

And then my heart feels free.

Es lassen Nachtigallen, The nightingales will sing, Spielt draußen Frühlingsluft When spring breezes play outside, Der sehnsucht Lied erschallen Their melody of yearning Aus ihres Kerkers Gruft, Out of their prison’s tomb.

Da lauschen alle Herzen, Then all the hearts are listening, Und alles ist erfreut, And everyone is glad, Doch keiner fühlt die Schmerzen, But none can feel the sorrows, Im Lied das tiefe Leid.

The bitter grief in the song.

program notes Die Forelle - The Trout “Die Forelle”, written by Franz Schubert, is an imaginative, effervescent German Lied that is heavily influenced by the Romantic themes of nature and animals. This Lieder follows the story of a river trout that is targeted and eventually captured by an old fisherman on the bank. This piece is a shining example of the ways in which the German Lieder tradition is concerned with telling an elaborate tale through beautiful lyrical melodies.

In einem Bächlein helle, Da schoß in froher Eil’ Die launische Forelle Vorüber wie ein Pfeil Ich stand an dem Gestade und sah in süßer Ruh Des muntern Fischleins bade im klaren Bächlein zu Des muntern Fischleins bade im klaren Bächlein zu

In a small brook there shot in a happy hurry The capricious trout passed like an arrow I stood on the shore and looked in sweet peace The cheerful fish bathe in the clear brook The cheerful fish bathe in the clear brook

A fisherman with a rod was standing on the bank And saw with cold blood how the little fish Ein Fischer mit der rute wohl an dem Uferswam stand As long as the water was clear, I thought, it Und sah’s mit kaltem Blute, wie sich das wouldn’t break Fischlein wand.

He won’t catch the trout with his fishing So lang dem Wasser helle, so dacht ich, rod like this nicht gebricht He won’t catch the trout with his fishing So fängt er die Forelle mit seiner Angel rod like this nicht So fängt er die Forelle mit seiner Angel He makes the brook treacherously cloudy, nicht unlike I saw it before So his rod twitched, the little fish, the little Doch endlich ward dem Diebe die Zeit zu fish wriggles on it lang And I looked at the betrayed one, covered Er macht das Bächlein tückisch trübe, und in blood eh ich es gedacht And I looked at the betrayed one, covered So zuckte seine Rute, das Fischlein, das in blood Fischlein zappelt dran Und ich mit regem Blute sah die betrogne an Und ich mit regem Blute sah die betrogne an

program notes Die Stille - Silence “Die stille”, composed by Robert Schumann, is another piece taken from the Liederkreis: Op. 39 collection. Just as in “Wehmut”, Eichendorff paints his text using metaphors and imagery taken from the natural world.

Es weiß und rät es doch Keiner, Wie mir so wohl ist, so wohl!

Ach, wußt’ es nur Einer, nur Einer, Kein Mensch es sonst wissen soll!

No one knows and no one can guess How happy I am, how happy!

If only one, just one person knew, No one else ever should!

So still ist’s nicht draußen im Schnee, So stumm und verschwiegen sind Die Sterne nicht in der Hoh; Als meine Gedanken sind.

The snow outside is not so silent, Nor are the stars on high So still and taciturn As my own thoughts.

Ich wünscht; ich war ein Vöglein Und zöge über das Meer, Wohl über das Meer und weiter, Bis daß ich im Himmel war!

I wish I were a little bird, And could fly across the sea, Across the sea and further, Until I were in heaven!

Tu Ch’hai le penne, Amore - You That Have Wings, My Love “Tu Ch’hai Le Penne, Amore” is the oldest piece featured in my recital. This piece is composed by Giulio Caccini, a teacher, singer, instrumentalist, and composer of the late Renaissance era. The piece was composed in 1602 as part of his larger collection of songs for solo voice, called Le nuove musiche.

Tu ch’hai le penne, Amore E sai spiegarle a volo, Deh muovi ratto un volo Fin lá dov’è ‘l mio core.

E se non sai la via, Co’ miei sospir t’invia.

You have wings, my love And how you spread them in flight Alas move quickly up to there There is where my heart lies And if you do not know the way, My sighs will show you where to go.

Va pur che’l troverai Tra’l velo e’l bianco seno, O tra’l dolce sereno De’ luminosi rai, O tra bei nodi d’oro Del mio dolce tesoro.

Go then and you will find Between the veil and the white breast The sweet serenity Of the luminous rays Oh beautiful pieces of gold Of my sweet treasure.

program notes There is a Lady Sweet and Kind “There is a Lady Sweet and Kind”, composed by American composer Norman Dello Joio, combines beautiful, flowing melodies with the classic Elizabethan poem written by an anonymous poet. The piece is emblematic of the English art song tradition, and describes the complex feelings of love and genuine human connection.

The Valley and the Hill “The Valley and the Hill” is a piece of a collection of English art songs composed

by Roger Quilter entitled “Two September Songs, Op. 18”. Rather than focusing on imagery of human love, its lyrics focus on the love of the English landscape. These lyrics, written by poet Mary Coleridge, suggest a longing for home and the comforts of the simple, pastoral life.

Come Fly With Me “Come Fly With Me”, composed in 1957 by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, is a song that was popularized by Frank Sinatra’s album of the same name, which was released in 1958. This piece was foundational to the popularization of jazz in mass media in the mid-century. This genre was emblematic of the decade as it was a rhythmic, fun, and catchy love song.

Blue Moon “Blue Moon”, another jazz piece, was popularized by Billie Holiday in 1952. The lyrics of this song are more introspective and reflective than the previous piece, but still is considered a popular example of a beautiful, easy-listening love song. The beginning of the decade of the 1950s was important to the establishment of the record businesses and the popularization of music in media on a large scale. This piece can certainly be considered to fit into that category. “Blue Moon” has been adapted to many popular voices throughout the decade, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Elvis Presley.

Love I Hear “Love I Hear”, composed by Stephen Sondheim, premiered in the musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” in 1962. This piece is sung by the character “Hero” in the production- a young boy living in ancient Rome who is smitten by his next door neighbor, Philia. The musical premiered at the very end of the Golden Age of Broadway, a time when the role of women on stage was shifting, and new styles of music were becoming more commonplace. “A Funny Thing Happened…” is an example of such a production that was heavily influenced by these novel cultural movements.

program notes Love Sneaks In “Love Sneaks In” comes from the 2004 musical written by David Yazbek, based off of the 1988 film, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”. The show follows two con men in Monaco who are set out to scam rich women out of money in the casinos. This piece, sung

by Lawrence in the show, marks a turning point in his character. While he originally is set out to have a relationship with a rich woman simply to steal her money, he is entrapped by her love and finds himself at odds with his motives.

I’d Rather Be Sailing “I’d Rather Be Sailing”, composed by William Finn for his 1998 musical “A New Brain”, is widely recognized as an autobiographical piece. The musical follows the life and works of Finn, who deals with his own experience involving an arteriovenous malformation (an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system) and the healing powers of music. Through all of the medical turmoil and countless visits to the hospital, the main character is brought back to the things that make life worth living. His passion can be found sailing the open waters, and finding freedom from the trials that constantly weigh him down.

upcoming events for carthage community Winter Choral Concert: Songs of Love Monday, Feb. 15 • 5:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel • Tickets required Winter Band Concert: Crossover Friday, Feb. 19 • 7:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel • Tickets required Eurydice Feb. 19-20 • 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 • 3 p.m.

Wartburg Theatre • Tickets required Carthage Philharmonic Strings Concert Saturday, Feb. 27 • 7:30 p.m.

A. F. Siebert Chapel • Tickets required Student Recital: Mitchell Dziewior & London Roysden Sunday, Feb. 28 • 2 p.m.

Recital Hall • Tickets required

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