Two Songs of Spring
Paul Dickinson
About this work:
Two Songs of Spring was composed in the summer of 1997. The texts are taken from the book 'A Severe Mercy' by Sheldon Vanauken, a true story of pagan love, christian love and the death of a loved one which saved their love from a more tragic ending. Both poems speak of the flowering of young love, and were written during that time in their lives. The second, however, foreshadows the illness and death they were to endure.
1. Spring (blue)
We two shall wear the blue of spring
Through all the years the lilac and the singing;
No drowsy summer hiding hints of fall,
But April always, blossoms clinging.
And as night falls, before we've lost the leaven
Of spring--bare branches, reaching, budding,
Melt quietly in dove-grey fields of heaven--
One April kiss as dark comes flooding.
2. Maytime
The agèd winter fled away
Before the bugles of the May,--
And love, dear love arose.
But when spring's glory goes
The lilacs of our love will stay
Forever Maytime sweet and gay,--
until the lilacs close
beneath the deathly snows.
Year composed: 1997
Duration: 00:09:00
Ensemble type: Voice, Solo or With Chamber or Jazz Ensemble:Solo Voice with Keyboard
Instrumentation: ,1 Piano soloist(s), ,1 High Voice soloist(s)