From Songs of Rebirth · For soprano and piano

To the World

for Soprano and Piano

A song for soprano and piano on an English text by Hilan Dov Warshaw, from Songs of Rebirth.

Year 2003
Duration 4′
Scoring Soprano
Piano
Publisher Boosey & Hawkes
/ Sikorski

Cycle

From Songs of Rebirth. The cycle also includes Poetry and Prayer.

Text

Hilan Dov Warshaw. English text.

Premiere

18 March 2003. Chicago · Julia Bentley, mezzo-soprano · Andrea Swan, piano.

Structure

  • To the World

    Song for soprano and piano.

  • Cycle

    From Songs of Rebirth.

  • Text

    English text by Hilan Dov Warshaw.

Work Information

Full Title
To the World
Cycle
From Songs of Rebirth.
Scoring
For soprano and piano.
Year
2003.
Duration
4′.
Text
Hilan Dov Warshaw, in English.
Premiere
First performed on 18 March 2003 in Chicago by Julia Bentley, mezzo-soprano, and Andrea Swan, piano.
Publisher
Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski.

Listen to Work

Educational listening access to To the World for soprano and piano.

Now Playing

To the World

Songs of Rebirth · Soprano and piano

Text

To the World

Text by Hilan Dov Warshaw

Birthed of a God, of men forsworn To order parcels of content, and leave My legacy before my last reprieve, I exited the door.

What sun! A sun so shining in a promise Glowing from its place, And calls the calls I know I’ve heard before, But that never seemed to draw me from a door, And tell me: tell them of yourself, and more.

All this had stood, and I had stank insane-! In sinful sacked lost wastefulness I wept To curry o’er that secret that I’d kept That I’d no secret! I in rank disease Would dare the world to damn me if it please…

A boulevard of trees! Each arching down to me to lift me past the sky Where I may seek to be (all things that I Could hope to be) – a hoper, one to spark Your hopes to be fulfilled. – All round the park, The trees are raising tendrils fast in joy To justly raise to God a new-born boy.

Oh World, you are my midwife now, and I Shall make my grateful mark all over thee, Until in my will you new-born shall be.

I have no time for lies. Hushed air waits – not a sound. This world is heaven-sent, and I am heaven-bound.

The Work

To the World is a song for soprano and piano composed in 2003. It forms part of Songs of Rebirth, a cycle on English texts by Hilan Dov Warshaw.

The poem opens as an emergence into the world: a threshold, a sunlit promise, and a movement from hiddenness toward declaration. Its final lines transform the world into both witness and birthplace.

  • Form Song.
  • Language English.
  • Forces Soprano and piano.

Online Materials

Public links related to To the World. Audio is available on this page for educational listening.

Publisher and Materials

Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski. The publisher catalogue page and purchase page are linked below.