Music and Texts of GARY BACHLUND
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Das Gebet - (2016)
Christian Morgenstern
for soprano or mezzo soprano and piano
Die Rehlein beten zur Nacht,
hab acht!
Halb neun!
Halb zehn!
Halb elf!
Halb zwölf!
Zwölf!
Die Rehlein beten zur Nacht,
hab acht!
Sie falten die kleinen Zehlein,
die Rehlein.2 pages, circa 2' 00"
Dear deer pray their evening prayer,
Take care!
Nine draws nigh!
Ten's nearby!
Eleven! Sigh!
Then it's quite
Midnight!
Dear deer pray their evening prayer,
Take care!
They fold together their tender toes,
Those little does.
rhymed paraphrase of the composer
Copyright © 2016 Gary Bachlund
Numbers as well as the play on words populate this rhyme. For this, leaps of the octave, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth are sung in the vocal line in direct illustration of the text. The two chords, I7 and IV7 alternate, with the A flat as fulcrum being explained as among the twelfths generated for the leaping bass line as at measures 16-17, and the gentle swaying of the accompaniment ends this short setting. Portamenti for the singer are notated.
The score for Das Gebet is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.
