First there was Demeter, goddess of the Earth; She gave us grains to feed us and sustain us. Then came Dionysus, who gave us wine. He gave the pleasures of wine to rich And poor alike, to release us all from pain; He gave laughter to the flute, And the losing of cares In cool forgetting. When we have no wine, nothing is left, No love, no joy; With wine comes sleep, and in our sleep We forget the fret and fever of the day. For we live only briefly. Briefly…
The Clustered Vine; Songs of Love, Loss & Remembrance
Song Cycle by Kareem Roustom (b. 1971)
1. The Gift of Wine  [sung text checked 1 time]
Text Authorship:
- by Alexander Kerr (1828 - 1919)
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Euripides (c484BCE - 406BCE), appears in Βάκχαι (The Bacchae) [text unavailable]
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]2. Cup After Cup  [sung text checked 1 time]
Your love has filled for me cup after cup [ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- by Judith Chalmer (b. 1951), copyright ©
Based on:
- a text in Arabic (العربية) by Abu Hassan Al-Shushtari (1214 - 1270) [text unavailable]
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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.3. Life and Death  [sung text checked 1 time]
Life and death: at their core they are one [ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Stumpf (b. 1951), copyright ©
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926), no title, appears in Die Gedichte 1910-1922
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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.4. The Death of the Beloved  [sung text checked 1 time]
Of death he only knew what we all know [ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- by Thomas Stumpf (b. 1951), copyright ©
Based on:
- a text in Unknown Language by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926) [text unavailable]
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This text may be copyright, so we will not display it until we obtain permission to do so or discover it is public-domain.5. Taking Leave of a Friend  [sung text checked 1 time]
The spring wind comes from the east and quickly passes, Leaving faint ripples in our bowls of wine. Rise and dance In the westering sun, while the urge of youthful years is yet unchecked! Our wine is now gone. So, farewell! Here we part, my friend, one last time. Once, forever. You go ten thousand miles, drifting away Like an unrooted water-grass. One brief journey between heaven and earth, Then, alas! we are the same old dust of ten thousand ages. Oh, the floating clouds and the thoughts of a wanderer! Oh, the sunset and the longing for an old friend! We ride away from each other, waving our hands, While our horses neigh softly, softly…
Text Authorship:
- by Shigeyoshi Obata (1888 - 1971) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in Chinese (中文) by Li-Tai-Po (701 - 762), "前有一樽酒行二首"
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]