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Dir singe ich, Gitarre - (2013)
Bertram Kottmann
for baritone or bass and piano
Emily Ezust gewidmet
Dir singe ich, Gitarre.
Du bist's, mit der ich narre.
So täusche, brech', verzaubre ich
alle, die je lieben mich.
Deiner Saiten Harmonie
kühlt mein heiß' Verlangen;
es brennt in mir, erschöpft sich nie:
bin einem schönen Fluch verfangen.Copyright © 2013 Bertram Kottmann
circa 2' 50"
The original text of Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585)
Ma guitare, je te chante,
Par qui seule je déçois,
Je déçois, je romps, j'enchante
Les amours que je reçois.
Au son de ton harmonie
Je rafraîchis ma chaleur,
Ma chaleur, flamme infinie,
Naissante d'un beau malheur.
The improviso character of the opening gesture intends to suggest a player musing on his instrument. Secco and then with strummed sostenuto chords of a few notes, it yields to the widely spaced and long gestures introducing the vocal line. The setting breaks into strophes as is the versification of the text, with a general ABA form.
The score for Dir singe ich, Gitarre 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.
