Soprano - singing teacher - choir director

Marije Rommes

<<tekst>>

Composer / title

Description

Subject

Berlioz (1803-1869)



​Les nuits d’été:

​ 1. Villanelle

Spring/Wedding anniversary/Birthday

Fresh and cheerful spring song; let's go and pick strawberries in the woods.

​2. Le spectre de la Rose

Love

I am the lucky rose that was picked to shine as the ornament on your breast all evening.

​6. L’ île inconnue

Love /Birthday

Cheerful piece in which you are able to hear the sound of the waves and the wind. I am on a little sailing boat, searching for the island where love never dies.

​..

Bernstein (1918-1990)


I hate music:​

Humoristic/Father's Day/ Mother's Day/Secretary Day/Birthday

Humoristic song cycle of five short pieces, lyrics and music by Leonard Bernstein. All five songs from a ten year old girl's point of view.

1. My name is Barbara


2. Jupiter has seven moons



​3. I hate music​



4. A big Indian and a little Indian​



5. I’m a person too​



.​


.

Bizet (1838-1875)

 
 

Chanson d’Avril

Spring

Let's go outside and enjoy the spring weather.

Tarantelle

Birthday/Secretary Day/Father's Day/Mother's Day

Virtuoso piece about the flight of a butterfly.

Ouvre ton coeur

Valentine's Day

Open your heart to my love.

.

 
 

Brahms (1883-1897)

 
 

Ein Wanderer

Leaving

Not very cheerful song about a traveller who doesn't belong anywhere.

.An die Stolze

A making-up song with an edge

You are so proud, but I still love you.

Vom Strande

Leaving

I am shouting from the beach to the ship sailing on the sea on which my beloved is sailing away.

Heel kort liedje; zeg, kom jij niet uit Newcastle/ken ik jou niet ergens van?

 
 

Britten (1913-1976)

 
 

.Embroidery aria (uit: Peter Grimes)

Father's Day/ Mother's Day

A knitted jumper reminds me of my carefree childhood.

Sail on, sail on

Retirement

Sail on little boat, away from the man who broke my heart.

Come you not from Newcastle

Funny little piece

Very short song; don't I know you from somewhere?

.

 
 

Debussy (1862-1918)

 
 

Fleur des Blés

Valentine's Day

I will pick a bunch of flowers for you; the cornflowers are like your eyes. I think you must have already guessed that I am in love with you.

Fantoches

Birthday

Absurd little song about the Italian  commedia dell’arte characters.

Nuits d’étoiles

Love

This rose is your breath and the stars are your eyes.

.

 
 

Fauré (1845-1924)

 
 

Au bord de l’eau​

Wedding anniversary/ Retirement

To stay in love together, watching the world go by.

Lydia

For Lydias

Beautiful Lydia.

Sylvie

For Sylvias

Beautiful Sylvia.

Le papillon et la fleur

Love /Secretary Day/Retirement// Leaving /Birthday/ Humoristic song with added butterfly net

I am a flower and would love for the butterfly that visits me everyday to stay with me. Oh, if only I had wings or if you would have roots so that we could stay together!

​Les roses d’Ispahan

Love , or for women called Leilah

You are more beautiful than roses and more exquisite than a summer's breeze.

​Rêve d’amour

Valentine's Day/Proposal/Wedding anniversary

Lover's dream: I would like to make the path where you put your feet.

​Après un rêve

Love /Proposal/Wedding anniversary

In my dream I am with you.

​Aurore

Love

With the breaking of the dawn, the stars are fleeing like my dreams, but they are fleeing to your feet. 

​.​

 
 

Finzi (1901-1956)

 
 

​.​The lily has a smooth stalk

Wedding anniversary

Comparison between flowers with thorns and love. Poem by Christina Rossetti.

​.​​

 
 

Giordani (1751-1798)

 
 

​.​​Caro mio ben

Valentine's Day/Love /Proposal/Wedding anniversary

Please believe me, my love, without you I am lost.

.

 
 

Grieg (1843-1907)

 
 

Zur Rosenzeit

Leaving

Just like the roses that have died, your love for me is gone. We had such a beautiful time together.

.​

 
 

Handel (1685-1759)

 
 

.​V’adoro, pupille (uit: Giulio Cesare)

Valentine's Day/Love /Proposal

I adore your eyes.

.​

 
 

Haydn (1732-1809)

 
 

.​With verdure clad (uit: the Creation/Die Schöpfung)

Spring/Summer

Virtuoso piece about green meadows and woodland.

Benedictus (uit: Kleine Orgelmesse)

Birth

Blessed is the one who will arrive.

A pastoral song

Innocent girl's song/ Mother's Day

Mother tells me to put on my new dress and go out, but I just want to cry about the loss of my boyfriend.

Piercing eyes

Love /Valentine's Day

Your beautiful eyes see right through me and my being in love with you.

.

 
 

Mozart (1756-1791)

 
 

Porgi Amor (uit: Le nozze di Figaro)​

Love / Mozart hit song/Comfort

Please come back to me my love.

Giunse alfin il momento, Deh vieni non tardar (uit: Le nozze di Figaro)

Proposal

I am in the garden waiting for my loved one. Come on, hurry up!

Un moto di gioja

Birthday

A feeling of joy is overtaking me.

.​

 
 

Pergolesi (1710-1736)​

 
 

Se tu m’ami​

Love

Flirty song; yes I like you, but there are more fish in the sea.

.

 
 

Poulenc (1899-1963)

 
 

Banalités:​

Retirement/ Leaving

 

1. Chanson d’Orkenise

 

In front of the town gate a porter and a rambler are waiting to come in. A conversation with the town guards ensues.

2. Hôtel

 

I am lying on my bed in my hotel room and feel lazy in the summer sun. I don't feel like going to work at all but instead would love to stay here and smoke my cigarette.

3. Fagnes de Wallonie

 

Stormy hike across the Walloon planes.

4. Voyage à Paris

 

Ah to go to Paris, city of love!

.

 
 

Puccini (1858-1924)​

 
 

Oh mio babbino caro (uit: Gianni Schicchi)​

Father's Day

Please dad, just let me go out with my sweetheart tonight.

.​

 
 

Purcell (1659-1695)

 
 

If music be the food of love​

Proposal/Father's Day/Secretary Day/Mother's Day/ Retirement/Birthday

Virtuoso ode to music.

Sweeter than roses

Valentine's Day/Wedding anniversary/Love /Proposal

A whole song about the first kiss.

What can we poor females do

Mother's Day/Secretary Day

Us women have a lot to deal with: men!

Man is for the woman made

Wedding anniversary/Proposal

Man and woman belong together. Including saucy lyrics.

The fatal hour

Love

If you leave me, I will crumble because I only live for you.

Music for a while

Comfort

Music makes all your sorrows disappear for a moment.

Since from my dear

Love

Since she left me, I am worth nothing.

.

 
 

Satie (1866-1925)

 
 

Ludions:​

Birthday

Song cycle, consisting of five short pieces: modern music, fantasy animals and other weirdness.

1. Air du Rat

 
 

2. Spleen

 
 

3. La grenouille américaine

 
 

4. Air du poète

 
 

5. Chanson du chat

 
 

.

 
 

Scarlatti (1660-1725)

 
 

Se Florindo è Fedele​

Love

If Florindo proves to be loyal, I could fall in love with him.

.

 
 

 Schubert (1797-1828)

 
 

An die Musik

Father's Day/Comfort/Secretary Day/ Retirement

Ode to music.

Ständchen

Father's Day/ Mother's Day

Famous melody. I hope my song will float to you on the evening breeze.

Aufenthalt

Retirement

Tumultuous description of nature in comparison to a broken heart.

Die Männer sind mechant

Mother's Day, Humoristic

My mother did tell me several times: men!

In der Ferne

Retirement

Captivating song about someone who broken heartedly travels away from their loved one.

.

 
 

Schumann (1810-1856)

 
 

Lust der Sturmnacht​

Comfort

Stormy weather outside, while we are here in the cosy warmth of our house.

An den Mond

Comfort

Ode to the moon.

Lied der Suleika

Valentine's Day/Love / Retirement/ Leaving

Even when I am far away, I adore you. My heart is your mirror.

.​

 
 

Stravinsky (1882-1971)

 
 

Quietly night (uit: The Rake's Progress)​

Love / Comfort/ Retirement/ Leaving

Night and moon; please lead me to my loved one in the big city.

.

 
 

Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

 
 

Songs of travel:​

 
 

2. Let beauty awake

Spring/Love

The breaking of the dawn; beauty awakes.

7. Whither must I wander?

Leaving / Retirement

The house where I once lived is empty and everybody has left. Where should I go?

8. Bright is the ring of words

Leaving

After the singer has died, his music will remain.