Demo CD Track Listing
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?