by Gao Shi (707 - 765)
Translation by Launcelot Alfred Cranmer-Byng (1872 - 1945)
There was a King of Liang ‑‑ a king of...
Language: English after the Chinese (中文)
There was a King of Liang -- a king of wondrous might -- Who kept an open palace, where music charmed the night -- Since he was Lord of Liang a thousand years have flown, And of the towers he builded yon ruin stands alone. There reigns a heavy silence; gaunt weeds through windows pry, And down the streets of Liang old echoes, wailing, die.
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Text Authorship:
- by Launcelot Alfred Cranmer-Byng (1872 - 1945), "Desolation", appears in A Lute of Jade, being selections from the classical poets of China, first published 1909 [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Gao Shi (707 - 765), no title
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Frances Allitsen (1848 - 1912), "A King of Liang", published 1910 [ voice and piano ], from Four Songs from 'A Lute of Jade', no. 4, London: Weekes & Co. [sung text not yet checked]
- by Granville Ransome Bantock, Sir (1868 - 1946), "Desolation", published 1919 [ voice and piano ], from Songs from the Chinese Poets: Set II, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Gena Branscombe (1881 - 1977), "There was a King of Liang", from A Lute of Jade, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Emerson Whithorne (1884 - 1958), "The King of Liang", op. 18 no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Czech (Čeština), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist [an adaptation] ; composed by Pavel Haas.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-07-05
Line count: 6
Word count: 62