For soprano and piano
Two Songs
for Soprano and Piano
A pair of songs for soprano and piano on Federico García Lorca, sung in Russian.
Published Work
Two Lorca settings. The published score contains Song of Solitude and When I Die.
Text
Federico García Lorca. The songs are set in Russian.
Songs
The two songs may be heard and read separately below.
Structure
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I. Song of Solitude
For soprano and piano. Text by Federico García Lorca, sung in Russian.
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II. When I Die
For soprano and piano. Text by Federico García Lorca, sung in Russian.
Work Information
I. Song of Solitude
The first song of Two Songs, sung in Russian.
Безлюдье
Federico García Lorca · sung text in Russian · English translation by Lera Auerbach
Sung text, Russian
Безлюдье Со всех сторон – безлюдье – со всех сторон.
(Сиротский звон – свечечка…)
Сиротский звон сверчка – сиротский звон.
Сон бубенца во мраке.
Сон…
English translation, for reference
From all around – Solitude – From all around.
(Orphan bells – small candle…)
Lonely ringing of a cricket – Orphan bells.
The dream of a little bell in the darkness.
The dream…
Text note: The musical setting uses the Russian text only. The English version by Lera Auerbach is included here as a reference translation.
II. When I Die
The second song of Two Songs, sung in Russian.
Когда умру
Federico García Lorca · sung text in Russian · English translation by Lera Auerbach
Sung text, Russian
Когда умру… схороните меня с гитарой в речном песке…
Когда умру… В апельсиновой роще старой, в любом цветке…
Когда умру… буду флюгером я на крыше на ветру…
Тише когда умру.
English translation, for reference
When I die… Let me rest with my guitar in the river’s sand…
When I die… In the ancient forest of the orange trees, in every flower…
When I die… I’ll be the weathervane on the roof full of wind…
Keep silent when I die.
Text note: The musical setting uses the Russian text only. The English version by Lera Auerbach is included here as a reference translation.
The Work
Two Songs brings together two early Lorca settings for soprano and piano: Song of Solitude and When I Die. Both songs are sung in Russian, with English translations by Lera Auerbach included here only as a guide to meaning.
The cycle moves between images of solitude and images of death, joining small, fragile sounds with stark visual symbols: bells, a cricket, a guitar, river sand, orange trees, wind, and silence.
- Form Two-song cycle.
- Language Russian.
- Forces Soprano and piano.
- Texts Federico García Lorca.
Online Materials
Public links related to Two Songs. Audio is available on this page for educational listening.
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AudioListen to Song of Solitude leraauerbach.com
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AudioListen to When I Die leraauerbach.com
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PublisherBoosey & Hawkes / Sikorski Boosey & Hawkes
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ScorePurchase Score Boosey & Hawkes
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ReferenceAuerbach Work Catalogue Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski
Publisher and Materials
Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski. The publisher catalogue page and purchase page are linked below.
