Program Notes The text and initial melody for Life is But a Dream is based on the English nursery rhyme Row, Row, Row Your Boat, a popular round sung by children all over the world. While working on this piece, I discovered quite a few variations—many of them humorous—as well as distinctive versions in different languages. In this work, I use the English version in its entirety and also words and phrases from the German, French, Italian and Latin versions. I superimpose these words and phrases, creating a flowing, quilt-like dreamscape. Life is But a Dream was commissioned by the Chamber Choir of Europe, Nicol Matt, director. – RP
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Explanation of Notation
f
– suggested breath mark – subito (when placed before a dynamic, i.e. / ) / ( ) – All markings in parenthesis are courtesy/cautionary markings. • All accidentals last for the entire measure, unless they are canceled out by another accidental (such as a natural sign). Accidental only apply to the line or space they are on. World Premiere Chamber Choir of Europe, Nicol Matt, Director European Festival of Church Music, Schwäbisch Gemünd, Germany July 28, 2010 World Premiere Recording Music Sacra: Eternal Reflections Kent Tritle, Music Director and Conductor American Modern Recordings (AMR 1040): americanmodernrecordings.com Duration: ca. 4’30” Life is But a Dream* Text taken from the English version of Row, Row, Row Your Boat, with additional words and text from versions in other Languages. Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream. (German) Fahr, fahr, fahr... Durch Wasser und durch Schaum Lass dich treiben, treiben, treiben, treiben
Row, row, row... Through water and through foam Let yourself float, float, float, float
(French) Doucement, dans le courant
Gently down the stream
(Italian) Va, va, lenta va Slow, slow, slowly goes Lentamente va It slowly goes (Latin) Laetulae, laetulae, laetulae, laetulae
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
*Based on Row, Row, Row Your Boat, attributed to Eliphalet Oram Lyte (1842 - 1913), The Franklin Square Song Collection (1881, New York). Text in the public domain.