Demo CD Track Listing

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1. Das Veilchen - W.A. Mozart

2. Apartment from “Something Permanent” - Paul Salerni*

3. Boys from “Something Permanent” - Paul Salerni*

4. Nunca olvida (LIVE) - Martin Rokeach*

5. Schäfers Klagelied (LIVE) - Franz Schubert

6. Piazza Piece (LIVE) - Frank Brickle* 

7. Stranger here myself from “One Touch of Venus” - Kurt Weill

 

*written for The Bowers Fader Duo
 

 

Das Veilchen

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Recorded and produced by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio, November 2013

 

Ein Veilchen auf der Wiese stand

Gebückt in sich und unbekannt

Es war ein herzigs Veilchen

Da kam ein junge Schäferin

Mit leichtem Schritt und munterm Sinn

Daher, daher,  die Wiese her, und sang

 

Ach, denkt das Veilchen,

Wär’ ich nur die schönste Blume der Natur

Ach, nur ein kleines Weilchen

Bis mich das Liebchen abgepflückt

Und an den Busen matt gedrückt

Ach nur, ach nur ein Viertelstündchen lang

Ach, aber ach, das Mädchen kam

Und nicht in acht das Veilchen nahm,

Ertrat das arme Veilchen!

Es sank und starb und freut’ sich noch

Und sterb’ ich denn, so sterb’ ich doch durch sie!

Durch sie, zu ihren Füßen doch!

 

Das arme Veilchen, es war ein herzigs Veilchen

 

The Little Violet

 

A little violet stood in the field

Bent over and unknown

It was a charming little violet

There came a young shepherdess

With light step and sprightly mind

From there, from there,

Through the meadow and sang

 

Ah, thought the violet,

If only I was the most beautiful flower in nature

Ah, only for a little while

Then this little dear would pluck me

And press me to her breast

Ah, if only for a little while!

 

Ah, but alas, the maiden came

And paid no attention to the little violet

She trampled on the violet!

It sank and died, but was happy!

Even though I die, I die through her!

At her feet!

 

The poor little violet, it was a charming little violet

​

  ~~~~

 

Apartment from Something Permanent

Music by Paul Salerni

Text by Cynthia Rylant, inspired by photographs by Walker Evans

Recorded and produced by Adam Abeshouse at Abeshouse Productions, January 20, 2017

 

When her relatives from the south

came up for a visit,

they lamented her sorry state,

having to live in that little box,

having no fields nor trees,

having no hills to look toward.

She never told them

how she didn’t miss those things,

how she would lie awake at night,

her apartment window wide open,

and listen to the city

like she was listening to birds,

like she was listening to hymns,

like she was hearing a lover.

She never told them how hard it was

to wipe the smile off her face

each and every minute they complained

 

  ~~~~

 

Boys from Something Permanent

Music by Paul Salerni

Text by Cynthia Rylant, inspired by photographs by Walker Evans

Recorded and produced by Adam Abeshouse at Abeshouse Productions, January 20, 2017

 

They both loved the same girl

but she wouldn’t have either of them

because she was married --

and to the store owner by god,

so it wasn’t worth thinking about.

But at night,

they each stretched upon a bed

and had her,

had her whole

and leisurely.

And when they were done,

they settled her back in their minds

like a soft peach

will disappear

into a young boy’s pocket,

warm August nights.

 

  ~~~~

Nunca olvida

Music by Martin Rokeach

Text by Ramón de Campoamor

Live recording at Tenri Cultural Institute, October 7, 2016

 

Nunca olvida

Ya que este mundo abandono

Antes de dar cuenta a Dios

Aquí para entre los dos

Mi confesión te dire

Con toda el alma

Perdono hasta a los que siempre he odiado

A ti que tanto te he amado

Nunca te perdonaré

 

Never forget

 

Never forget

Since I am leaving this world

And before I give my account to the Lord

Here, between the two of us

I will confess to you

With all my soul

I forgive those whom I have always hated

You, whom I have deeply loved

I will never forgive

 

  ~~~~

 

Schäfers Klagelied

Music by Franz Schubert

Text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Live recording at Old Westbury Gardens, November 2011

 

Da droben auf jenem Berge,

Da steh ich tausend mal

An meinem Stabe hingebogen

Und schaue hinab in das Tal

Dann folg ich der weidenden Herde,

Mein Hündchen bewahret mir sie

Ich bin herunter gekommen

Und weiss doch selber nicht wie

 

Da stehet von schӧnen Blumen

Da steht die ganze Wiese so voll

Ich breche sie,

Ohne zu wissen wem ich sie geben soll

Und Regen, Sturm, und Gewitter

Verpass ich unter dem Baum

Die Türe dort bleibet verschlossen

Doch alles ist leider ein Traum

 

Es stehet ein Regenbogen

Wohl über jenem Haus

Sie aber ist fortgezogen

Und weit in das Land hinaus

Hinaus in das Land und weiter

Vielleicht gar über die See

Vorüber, ihr Schafe! Nur vorüber,

Dem Schӓfer ist gar so weh.

 

Shepherd’s Lament

 

Up there on that mountain

I have stood a thousand times

Leaning on my bent staff

Looking down into the valley

Then I follow my grazing herd

My little dog guards them for me

I have come down here

Yet I know not how

 

There stand the beautiful flowers

The entire meadow is full of them

I break one off

Without knowing to whom I should give it

And rain, storm, and thunder

I wait out under a tree

The door remains locked

Yes, everything is sadly a dream

 

There stands a rainbow

Over that house

But she has moved away

Far from this land and beyond

Beyond this place and further

Perhaps even over the sea

It is over, my sheep, completely over

Your shepherd is so very sad

​

  ~~~~

 

Piazza Piece

Music by Frank Brickle

Text by John Crowe Ransom

Live recording from Tenri Cultural Institute, October 7, 2016

 

I am a gentleman in a dustcoat trying

To make you hear. Your ears are soft and small

And listen to an old man not at all.

They want the young men’s whispering and sighing

But see the roses on your trellis dying

And hear the spectral singing of the moon;

For I must have my lovely lady soon

I am a gentleman in a dustcoat trying

 

I am a lady young in beauty waiting

Until my true love comes, and then we kiss

But what grey man among the vines is this

Whose words are dry and faint as in a dream?

Back from my trellis, Sir, before I scream!

I am a lady young in beauty waiting

 

  ~~~~
 

I’m a Stranger Here Myself from One Touch of Venus

Music by Kurt Weill

Text by Ogden Nash

Recorded and produced by Ryan Streber at Oktaven Audio, November 2013

 

Tell me, is love still a popular suggestion, or merely an obsolete art?

Forgive me for asking this simple question, I’m unfamiliar with his heart,

I am a stranger here myself

 

Why is it wrong to murmur I adore him, when it’s shamefully obvious I do?

Does love embarrass him, or does it bore him?

I’m only waiting for my cue, I am a stranger here myself

 

I dream of a day, of a gay warm day, with my face between his hands

Have I missed the path, have I gone astray?

I ask, and no one understands

 

Love me or leave me, that seems to be the question

I don’t know the tactics to use

But if he should offer a personal suggestion,

How could I possibly refuse when I’m a stranger here myself

 

Please tell me, tell a stranger – by curiosity goaded –

Is there really any danger that love is now outmoded?

I’m interested especially in knowing why you waste it

True romance is so fleshly, with what have you replaced it?

What is your latest foible? Is gin rummy more exquisite?

Is skiing more enjoyable? For heaven’s sake, what is it?

 

I can’t believe that love has lost its glamour, that passion is really passé

If gender is just a term in grammar, how can I ever find my way,

Since I’m a stranger here myself?

 

How can he ignore my available condition?

Why these Victorian views?

You see here before you a woman with a mission

I must discover the key to his ignition

And then if he should make a diplomatic proposition,

How could I possibly refuse, when I’m a stranger here myself?