Three Short Songs

For soprano and vibraphone

2014

A Dream

Welcome Sweet Pleasure

Sleep, Darksome, Deep

David Dean Mendoza

 Program Notes

Three Short Songs for soprano and vibraphone was written in the summer 2014 for

the Resound Duo. For the source material of this composition, I chose three

contrasting poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Thomas Weekles, and Paul Verlaine. In

order to fuse these different texts, I used modal patterns based on the pitch D.

Performance Notes

The performers may be as dramatic as they wish. They may exaggerate the

performance with consumes and lighting. Generally, the use of mallet is left to the

performer, but legato articulations should be preferred. The vibraphone should

accompany the soprano and never over power her.

Bent notes are executed by striking the bar with a medium/soft mallet then quickly

using a hard mallet to slide outward on the bar away from the performer. This will most

likely make a half step gliss/bend on the note. In addition, measures 50-51, 61-63, and

similar measures are rhythmically the same as ¾.

 A Dream
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

That was a curious dream; I thought the three

Great planets that are drawing near the sun

With such unerring certainty begun

To talk together in a mighty glee.

They spoke of vast convulsions which would be

Throughout the solar system—the rare fun

Of watching haughty stars drop, one by one,

And vanish in a seething vapour sea.

I thought I heard them comment on the earth—

That small dark object—doomed beyond a doubt.

They wondered if live creatures moved about

Its tiny surface, deeming it of worth.

And then they laughed—’twas such a singing shout

That I awoke and joined too in their mirth.

Welcome Sweet Pleasure
Ballets and Madrigals to Five Voices
By Thomas Weekles (1598)

Welcome, sweet pleasure,

My wealth and treasure;

To haste our playing

There’s no delaying,

No no!

This mirth delights me

When sorrow frights me.

Then sing we all

Fa la la la la!

Sorrow, content thee,

Mirth must prevent thee:

Though much thou grievest

Thou none relieves.

No no!

Joy, come delight me,

Though sorrow spite me.

Then sing we all

Fa la la la la!

Grief is disdainful,

Sottish and painful:

Then wait on pleasure,

And lose no leisure.

No no!

Heart’s ease it lendeth

And comfort sendeth

Sleep, Darksome, Deep
By Paul Verlaine

Sleep, darksome, deep,

Doth on me fall:

Vain hopes all, sleep,

Sleep, yearnings all!

Lo, I grow blind!

Lo, right and wrong

Fade to my mind…

O sorry song!

A cradle, I,

Rocked in a grave:

Speak low, pass by,

Silence I crave!