Pain has an element of blank (2013) - Piano/vocal
Pain has an element of blank (2013)
Performed by Danielle Sampson and Katy Luo
Poetry by Emily Dickinson
For voice and piano
or chamber ensemble
Poetry by Emily Dickinson Danielle Reutter-Harrah, mezzo-soprano Katy Luo, piano Performed at the Hot Air Music Festival at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, March 3rd, 2013.
Individual tracks:
1. 0:00, 2. 1:24, 3. 3:09, 4. 4:32, 5. 6:48, 6. 8:45, 7. 16:35, 8. 18:19, 9. 21:11
1. - 0:00
(189)
It's such a little thing to weep —
So short a thing to sigh —
And yet — by Trades — the size of these We men and women die!
2. - 1:24
(249)
Wild nights — Wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!
Futile — the Winds —
To a Heart in port —
Done with the Compass —
Done with the Chart!
Rowing in Eden —
Ah, the Sea!
Might I but moor —
Tonight — In Thee!
3. - 3:09
(185)
"Faith" is a fine invention
When Gentlemen can see —
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency.
4. - 4:32
(47)
Heart! We will forget him!
You and I — tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave —
I will forget the light!
When you have done, pray tell me
That I may straight begin!
Haste! lest while you're lagging
I remember him!
5. - 6:48
(67)
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated — dying —
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
6. - 8:45
(340)
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,
And Mourners to and fro
Kept treading — treading — till it seemed
That Sense was breaking through —
And when they all were seated,
A Service, like a Drum —
Kept beating — beating — till I thought
My Mind was going numb —
And then I heard them lift a Box
And creak across my Soul
With those same Boots of Lead, again,
Then space — began to toll,
As all the Heavens were a Bell,
And Being, but an Ear,
And I, and Silence, some strange
Race Wrecked, solitary, here —
And then a Plank in Reason, broke,
And I dropped down, and down —
And hit a World, at every plunge,
And finished knowing — then —
7. - 16:35
(288)
I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you — Nobody — Too?
Then there's a pair of us?
Don't tell! they'd advertise — you know!
How dreary — to be — Somebody!
How public — like a Frog —
To tell one's name — the livelong June —
To an admiring Bog!
8. - 18:19
(254)
"Hope" is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —
And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard —
And sore must be the storm —
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm —
I've heard it in the chillest land —
And on the strangest Sea —
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb — of Me.
9. - 21:11
(214)
I taste a liquor never brewed —
From Tankards scooped in Pearl —
Not all the Vats upon the Rhine
Yield such an Alcohol!
Inebriate of Air — am I —
And Debauchee of Dew —
Reeling — thro endless summer days —
From inns of Molten Blue —
When "Landlords" turn the drunken Bee
Out of the Foxglove's door —
When Butterflies — renounce their "drams"—
I shall but drink the more!
Till Seraphs swing their snowy Hats —
And Saints — to windows run —
To see the little Tippler
Leaning against the — sun!