Leah Hawkins, mezzo-soprano

leah hawkins mezzo-soprano

master of music degree recital February 20, 2015 • Friday at 7:30 pm Morse Recital Hall

Robert Blocker, Dean

Master of Music Degree Recital

leah hawkins mezzo-soprano

Douglas Dickson, piano

Ernest Chausson 1855–1899

Chanson perpétuelle, Op. 37

Charles Cros

Richard Wagner 1813–1883

Wesendonck Lieder, WWV 91 I. Der Engel II. Stehe still!

III. Im Treibhaus IV. Schmerzen V. Träume

Mathilde Wesendonck

intermission Louis Vierne 1870–1937

Quatre poèmes grecs, Op. 60 I. Offrande à Pan II. Le Repos IV. Chanson pour Avril Noël Wan, harp

La Comtesse de Noailles

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 1875–1912

Christina Rossetti Six Sorrow Songs, Op. 57 I. Oh what comes over the sea II. When I am dead, my dearest V. Unmindful of the roses Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall Songs of Sun and Shade (1911) III. The Rainbow-Child IV. Thou art risen, my beloved V. This is the island of gardens

H. Leslie Adams b. 1932

Nightsongs (1961) I. Prayer V. Sence you went away VI. Creole Girl

Langston Hughes James Weldon Johnson Leslie Morgan Colllins

This performance is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Music degree.

Texts & Translations

ernest chausson Chanson perpétuelle, Op. 37 Text by Charles Cros Translation by Theresa Andrasy-Sokol, copyright © 2002

Perpetual Song

Bois frissonnants, ciel étoilé Mon bien-aimé s’en est allé Emportant mon cœur désolé.

Trembling trees, starry sky My beloved has gone away Bearing with him my desolate heart.

Vents, que vos plaintives rumeurs, Que vos chants, rossignols charmeurs, Aillent lui dire que je meurs.

Winds, let your plaintive noises Let your songs, charming nightingales, Tell him that I die.

Le premier soir qu’il vint ici Mon âme fut à sa merci; De fierté je n’eus plus souci.

The first night he came here, My soul was at his mercy; I no longer cared about my pride.

Mes regards étaient pleins d’aveux, Il me prit dans ses bras nerveux Et me baisa près des cheveux

My glances were full of promise.

He took me into his trembling arms And kissed me near the hair.

J’en eus un grand frémissement.

Et puis je ne sais plus comment Il est devenu mon amant.

I felt a great quivering.

And then, I don’t know how He became my lover.

Je lui disais: “Tu m’aimeras Aussi longtemps que tu pourras.”

Je ne dormais bien qu’en ses bras.

I said to him: “You will love me As long as you are able.”

I never slept as well as in his arms.

Mais lui, sentant son cœur éteint, S’en est allé l’autre matin Sans moi dans un pays lointain.

But he, feeling his heart fade, Left the other day Without me, for a foreign land.

Puisque je n’ai plus mon ami Je mourrai dans l’étang parmi les fleurs sous le flot endormi;

Since I no longer have my friend, I will die in this pool, among The flowers under the sleeping current.

Sur le bord arrivée, au vent Je dirai son nom en rêvant Que là je l’attendis souvent

Arriving on the shoreline, I will speak his name to the wind, In a dream that I await him there.

Et comme en un linceul doré, Dans mes cheveux défaits, au gré Du vent je m’abandonnerai.

And like in a gilded shroud With hair tousled at the wind’s whim, I will let myself go.

Texts & Translations

Les bonheurs passés verseront Leur douce lueur sur mon front Et les joncs verts m’enlaceront

The happy hours of the past will glimmer on my face, And the green reeds will entrap me.

Et mon sein croira, frémissant Sous l’enlacement caressant, Subir l’étreinte de l’absent.

And my breast, shuddering under the caress of their entwinement, will believe it submits to the embrace of the one who left.

richard wagner Wesendonck Lieder, WWV 91 Text by Mathilde Wesendonck Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust Der Engel

The angel

In der Kindheit frühen Tagen Hört ich oft von Engeln sagen, Die des Himmels hehre Wonne Tauschen mit der Erdensonne,

In childhood’s early days, I often heard them speak of angels Who would exchange Heaven’s sublime bliss for the Earth’s sun

Daß, wo bang ein Herz in Sorgen Schmachtet vor der Welt verborgen, Daß, wo still es will verbluten, Und vergehn in Tränenfluten,

So that, when an anxious heart in dread Is full of longing, hidden from the world; So that, when it wishes silently to bleed And melt away in a trickle of tears;

Daß, wo brünstig sein Gebet Einzig um Erlösung fleht, Da der Engel niederschwebt, Und es sanft gen Himmel hebt.

So that, when its prayer ardently Pleads only for release, Then the angel floats down And gently lifts it to Heaven.

Ja, es stieg auch mir ein Engel nieder, Und auf leuchtendem Gefieder Führt er, ferne jedem Schmerz, Meinen Geist nun himmelwärts!

Yes, an angel has come down to me, And on glittering wings It leads, far away from every pain, My soul now heavenward!

Stehe still!

Stand still!

Sausendes, brausendes Rad der Zeit, Messer du der Ewigkeit; Leuchtende Sphären im weiten All, Die ihr umringt den Weltenball; Urewige Schöpfung, halte doch ein, Genug des Werdens, laß mich sein!

Roaring and rushing wheel of time, You are the measurer of Eternity; Shining spheres in the wide universe, You who surround the world globe, Eternal creation, halt!

Enough development, let me be!

Texts & Translations

Halte an dich, zeugende Kraft, Urgedanke, der ewig schafft!

Hemmet den Atem, stillet den Drang, Schweiget nur eine Sekunde lang!

Schwellende Pulse, fesselt den Schlag; Ende, des Wollens ew’ger Tag! Daß in selig süßem Vergessen Ich mög alle Wonnen ermessen!

Cease, generative powers, The primal thoughts which you are ever creating!

Slow your breathing, still your urge Silently, only for a second long!

Swelling pulses, fetter your beating, End, o eternal day of willing!

That in blessed, sweet forgetfulness, I may measure all my bliss!

Wenn Aug’ in Auge wonnig trinken, Seele ganz in Seele versinken; Wesen in Wesen sich wiederfindet, Und alles Hoffens Ende sich kündet, Die Lippe verstummt in staunendem Schweigen, Keinen Wunsch mehr will das Innre zeugen: Erkennt der Mensch des Ew’gen Spur, Und löst dein Rätsel, heil’ge Natur!

When one eye another drinks in bliss, And one soul into another sinks, One nature in another finds itself again, And when each hope’s fulfillment is finished, When the lips are mute in astounded silence, And no wish more does the heart invent, Then man recognizes the sign of Eternity, And solves your riddle, holy Nature!

Im Treibhaus

In the hothouse

Hochgewölbte Blätterkronen, Baldachine von Smaragd, Kinder ihr aus fernen Zonen, Saget mir, warum ihr klagt?

High-vaulted crowns of leaves, Canopies of emerald, You children of distant zones, Tell me, why do you lament?

Schweigend neiget ihr die Zweige, Malet Zeichen in die Luft, Und der Leiden stummer Zeuge Steiget aufwärts, süßer Duft.

Silently you bend your branches, Draw signs in the air, And the mute witness to your anguish A sweet fragrance - rises.

Weit in sehnendem Verlangen Breitet ihr die Arme aus, Und umschlinget wahnbefangen Öder Leere nicht’gen Graus.

In desirous longing, wide You open your arms, And embrace through insane predilection The desolate, empty, horrible void.

Wohl, ich weiß es, arme Pflanze; Ein Geschicke teilen wir, Ob umstrahlt von Licht und Glanze, Unsre Heimat ist nicht hier!

Und wie froh die Sonne scheidet

I know well, poor plants, A fate that we share, Though we bathe in light and radiance, Our homeland is not here!

And how gladly the sun departs

Von des Tages leerem Schein, Hüllet der, der wahrhaft leidet, Sich in Schweigens Dunkel ein.

From the empty gleam of the day, He veils himself, he who suffers truly, In the darkness of silence.

Texts & Translations

Stille wird’s, ein säuselnd Weben Füllet bang den dunklen Raum: Schwere Tropfen seh ich schweben An der Blätter grünem Saum.

It becomes quiet, a whispered stirring Fills uneasily the dark room: Heavy drops I see hovering On the green edge of the leaves.

Schmerzen

Sorrows

Sonne, weinest jeden Abend Dir die schönen Augen rot, Wenn im Meeresspiegel badend Dich erreicht der frühe Tod;

Sun, each evening you weep Your pretty eyes red, When, bathing in the mirror of the sea You are seized by early death.

Doch erstehst in alter Pracht, Glorie der düstren Welt, Du am Morgen neu erwacht, Wie ein stolzer Siegesheld!

Yet you rise in all your splendor, Glory of the gloomy world, Newly awakening in the morning Like a proud, victorious hero!

Ach, wie sollte ich da klagen, Wie, mein Herz, so schwer dich sehn, Muß die Sonne selbst verzagen, Muß die Sonne untergehn?

Ah, why should I then lament, Why, my heart, are you so heavy, If the sun itself must despair, If the sun must set?

Und gebieret Tod nur Leben, Geben Schmerzen Wonne nur: O wie dank ich, daß gegeben Solche Schmerzen mir Natur!

And if Death gives rise only to Life, And pain gives way only to bliss, O how thankful I am, that Nature gives me such anguish!

Träume

Dreams

Sag, welch wunderbare Träume Halten meinen Sinn umfangen, Daß sie nicht wie leere Schäume Sind in ödes Nichts vergangen?

Tell me, what kind of wondrous dreams are embracing my senses, that have not, like sea-foam, vanished into desolate Nothingness?

Träume, die in jeder Stunde, Jedem Tage schöner blühn, Und mit ihrer Himmelskunde Selig durchs Gemüte ziehn!

Dreams, that with each passing hour, each passing day, bloom fairer, and with their heavenly tidings roam blissfully through my heart!

Träume, die wie hehre Strahlen In die Seele sich versenken, Dort ein ewig Bild zu malen: Allvergessen, Eingedenken!

Dreams which, like holy rays of light Sink into the soul, There to paint an eternal image: Forgiving all, thinking of only One.

Texts & Translations

Träume, wie wenn Frühlingssonne Aus dem Schnee die Blüten küßt, Daß zu nie geahnter Wonne Sie der neue Tag begrüßt,

Dreams which, when the Spring sun Kisses the blossoms from the snow, So that into unsuspected bliss They greet the new day,

Daß sie wachsen, daß sie blühen, Träumend spenden ihren Duft, Sanft an deiner Brust verglühen, Und dann sinken in die Gruft.

So that they grow, so that they bloom, And dreaming, bestow their fragrance, These dreams gently glow and fade on your breast, and then sink into the grave.

louis vierne Quatre poèmes grecs, Op. 60 Text by La Comtesse de Noailles Translation copyright © by Corinne Orde Offrande à Pan

Offering to Pan

Cette tasse de bois noire comme un pépin Où j’ai su d’une lame insinuante et dure Sculpter habilement la feuille du raisin Avec son pli, ses noeuds, sa vrille et sa frisure.

This cup of wood as black as a pip, On which, with a hard and insinuating blade, I was able skillfully to sculpt the grape leaf with its fold, its nodes, its tendrils and its curls.

Je la consacre à Pan en souvenir du jour Où le berger Damis m’arrachant cette tasse Après que j’y eus bu vint y boire à son tour.

En riant de me voir rougir de son audace.

I dedicate it to Pan in remembrance of the day when the shepherd Damis, seizing this cup from me, after I had drunk from it, drank from it in his turn, while laughing to see me blush at his audacity.

Ne sachant où trouver l’autel du dieu cornu Je laisse mon offrande au creux de cette roche…

Mais maintenant mon coeur à le goût continu d’un baiser plus profond plus durable et plus proche…

Not knowing where to find the altar of the horned god, I leave my offering in the hollow of this rock…

But now my heart has the constant taste Of a kiss that is deeper, longer lasting and closer…

Texts & Translations

Le Repos

Repose

Le plaisir mystique et païen L’amour la beauté le désir Ont fait plus de mal que de bien À mon âme qui s’en revient Lasse d’aimer et de souffrir.

Mystical and pagan pleasure love, beauty, desire have done more harm than good to my soul that now finds itself weary of loving and suffering.

Allez mon âme inassouvie Dormir dans l’ombre le grand somme Ayant rêvé par triste envie La joie au dela de la vie Et l’amour au dessus des hommes.

Go my unappeased soul to sleep in the shade a deep sleep having dreamed by sad desire of joy beyond life and of love above humans.

Chanson pour Avril

Song for April

Toute la nuit la pluie légère A glissé par jets et par bonds Viens respirer au bois profond l’odeur de la verdure amère.

All night long the light rain poured in gushes and spurts Come and breathe in the deep wood the scent of the bitter greenery.

Ton coeur est triste, morne et las Comme la naissante journée Elle sera bientôt fanée l’amoureuse odeur des lilas

Your heart is sad, dejected and weary Like the dawning day It will soon fade that loving scent of the lilacs

Aujourd’hui l’âme apitoyée Sent pleurer son vague tourment Viens écouter l’égouttement des feuilles mortes et mouillées.

Today the soul moved to pity Feels the weeping of its vague torment Come and hear the drips falling from the dead and wet leaves.

Texts & Translations

samuel coleridge-taylor Six Sorrow Songs Text by Christina Rossetti Oh what comes over the sea Shoals and quicksands past; And what comes home to me, Sailing slow, sailing fast?

A wind comes over the sea With a moan in its blast; But nothing comes home to me, Sailing slow, sailing fast.

Let me be, let me be, For my lot is cast: Land or sea all’s one to me, And sail it slow or fast.

When I am dead, my dearest Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be the green grass above me With showers and dewdrops wet; And if thou wilt, remember, And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows, I shall not feel the rain; I shall not hear the nightingale Sing on, as if in pain: And dreaming through the twilight That doth not rise nor set, Haply I may remember, And haply may forget.

Unmindful of the roses Unmindful of the thorn, A reaper tired reposes Among his gathered corn: So might I, till the morn!

Cold as the cold Decembers, Past as the days that set, While only one remembers And all the rest forget, — But one remembers yet. coleridge-taylor Songs of Sun and Shade Text by Marguerite Radclyffe-Hall The Rainbow-Child The sunshine met the stormwind As he swept across the plain, And she wooed him till he lov’d her, And his kisses fell as rain She was fair, and he was ardent, And behold! one happy morn, While I watch’d their mingled glory, Lo! a rainbow-child was born!

Thou art risen, my beloved And thou callest me to follow, Follow thro’ the chilly twilight Of this silent virgin morning.

Wither, wither wouldst thou lead me, To what place of new enchantment?

Can the day that thou art seeking Give such rapture as the darkness?

Thou art warm with many kisses, With the hand clasps of thy lover, Turn again unto my bosom, I would have it night forever!

This is the island of gardens Filled with a marvelous fragrance, O! the pale scent, the scent of jasmine!

O! the delicious mimosa!

Beating soft pinions together, Cometh a wind from the mountains; Why wouldst thou leave us, o small wind?

Texts & Translations

Rest thee awhile mid the laurels.

Even as thou, have I wandered Over the earth and the ocean, Pondering many things deeply, Now I lie down in the sunshine. h. leslie adams Nightsongs Prayer Text by Langston Hughes I ask you this: Which way to go?

I ask you this: Which sin to bear?

Which crown to put upon my hair?

I do not know, Lord God, I do not know.

Sence you went away Text by James Weldon Johnson Seems lak to me de stars don’t shine so bright, Seems lak to me de sun done loss his light, Seems lak to me der’s nothin’ goin’ right, Sence you went away.

Seems lak to me de sky ain’t half so blue, Seems lak to me dat ev’rything wants you, Seems lak to me I don’t know what to do, Sence you went away.

Seems lak to me dat ev’rything is wrong, Seems lak to me de day’s jes twice as long, Seems lak to me de bird’s forgot his song, Sence you went away.

Seems lak to me I jes can’t he’p but sigh, Seems lak to me ma th’oat keeps gittin’ dry, Seems lak to me a tear stays in my eye, Sence you went away.

Creole Girl Text by Leslie Morgan Collins When you dance, do you think of Spain, purple skirts and clipping castanets, Creole Girl?

When you laugh, do you think of France, golden wine and mincing minuets, Creole Girl?

When you sing, do you think of young America, grey guns and battling bayonets?

When you cry, do you think of Africa, blue nights and casual canzonets?

When you dance, do you think of Spain, purple skirts and clipping castanets, Creole Girl?

All translations used with permission from the LiederNet Archive » www.lieder.net

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Robert Blocker, Dean