Music

Ich schreibe dir

~ admin

Ich schreibe dir
Ich schreibe dir
Um mich zu erkundigen
Ach! schreibe mir
Ach! schreibe mir
Wie es dir geht!

Ich kam zu dir
Ich kam zu dir
Um dich zu besuchen
Aber bei mir
Aber bei mir
Nur Bestürtzung steht.

Nun, schreibe mir
Nun, schreibe mir
Weshalb du gefahren bist,
Und komm zu mir
Und komm zu mir
Mit der Freude die du gibst.

Dass Freude mein ist.
Dass du Freude mir gibst.

Babylonischer Brief 18 c vC. Ungnad Nr 160

Ich schreibe Dir nur, um mich nach Deinem Befinden zu erkundigen. Schreibe mir, wie es Dir geht! Ich kam nach Babylon, habe Dich aber nicht getroffen worüber ich sehr bestürzt war. Schreibe mir den Grund, weshalb Du fortgegangen bist damit ich wieder froh werde!

I write to you only to ask after your health. Write, and tell me how you are! I came to Babylon but as I could not find you I became quite distressed. Tell me why you have gone forth, and restore to me my joy.

I read the words in German and feel sure that in the heartfelt and emotive language of the Arameans the air of formality and precision would be entirely absent, and imagine that the original words inscribed in the clay were rather more like: ‘I’m writing to you! I need to know that you are ok. To say I’m upset – I came to Babylon to see you, but you’d gone away. Why? O! give me my happiness back!‘

© Stuart Moffatt 2001

ChoralWiki and Noteworthy Scriptorium

The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 2001).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.

Here lies a tree

~ admin

Here lies a tree by Pooh
House at Pooh Corner

1 Here lies a tree which Owl (a bird)
Was fond of when it stood on end
And Owl was talking to a friend
Called me (in case you hadn’t heard)
When something Oo occurred

© Stuart Moffatt 2001

2 For Lo! the wind was blusterous
And flattened out his favourite tree;
And things looked bad for him and we
Looked bad, I mean, for he_and us
I’ve never known them wuss.

3 Then Piglet (Piglet) thought a thing:
“Courage!” he said. “There’s always hope.
I want a thinnish piece of rope.
Or, if there isn’t any, bring
A thickish piece of string.”

4 So to the letter box he rose,
While Pooh and Owl! said “Oh” and “Hum!”
And where the letters always come
(Called “Letters only”) Piglet sqoze
His head and then his toes.

© AA Milne

5 O gallant Piglet (Piglet)! Ho!
Did Piglet tremble? did he blinch?
No, no, he struggled inch by inch
Through Letters Only, as I know
Because I saw him go.

6 He ran and ran, and then he stood
And shouted, “Help for Owl, a bird,
And Pooh, a bear!” until he heard
The others coming through_the wood
As quickly as they could.

7 “Help, help and Rescue!” Piglet cried,
And showed the others where to go.
[Sing ho! for Piglet (Piglet) ho!]
And soon the door was opened wide,
And we were both outside!

Sing ho! for Piglet, ho!
Ho!

ChoralWiki and NoteWorthy Scriptorium

Wo bist du gewesen?

~ admin

Wo bist du gewesen?

© Stuart Moffatt 2000

1 Wo bist du gewesen,
Wo bist du gewesen,
seither ich unter dunklem Himmels Licht
mit schweren Gedanken stritt?

2 Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,
seither der strahlende Mond meinetwegen
in klarer, kalter Nacht verzagt hat

Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,

3 Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,
seither die Morgenluft mit Taue kam
worauf ich mich legte schlaf’n?

© Stuart Moffatt 2000

4 Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,
seither du gern den Abend beleuchtest
als die Sonne untergeht?

Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,

5 Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,
seither du die Ewigkeit mir schenktest
und den Stunden mit Liebe schmücktest?

6 Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen,
seither ich unter dunklem Himmelslicht
mit unverständlichen Begriffen stritt

Wo bist du gewesen
Wo bist du gewesen?

ChoralWiki and NoteWorthy Scriptorium

The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 2000).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.

A selection of humms

~ admin

By Pooh

Long before Here lies a tree was born, Coco had taken some of Pooh’s humms and arranged the settings for a small group of wind instruments and given voice to some of Fraser-Simson’s seetings:

Arrangement for flute, tenor, oboe and clarinet © 1999 Stuart Moffatt
Half way
If Rabbit
Isn’t it funny
On Monday – arrangement for flute, tenor, oboe and clarinet © 1999 Stuart Moffatt
What shall we do

Hear more at: ChoralWiki, Noteworthy Scriptorium, and SoundCloud

Copyright © 1984 the trustees of Pooh Properties and estate of H Fraser-Simson
The copyright of the performances is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 1999).
Midi files were produced using Noteworthy Composer.
Mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.

Siebenmal

~ admin

Siebenmal: cries of conflict

Siebenmal hab’ ich vergessen trotz alles deines Gesetz.
Irdischen Gedanken haben mich gegossen.
Ruf’ ich an den Namen meines Herrn.
Ruf’ ich an den Namen meines Herrn.

Lassest mich vor dir kommen in deinem göttlichem Barmherzigkeit:
Na, ich komme nur wie ein Sünder, Gnädisch Gott, erbarme dich mein.

Ach, ich falle im Finsternis, nehm’st mich auf in deinem Licht.
Nichts kann dich widerstreben Ehre Herr, errettest du mich.

Jetzt bin ich ein Ehebrecher umgekerht von Weibes Lieb
Desto um ein’ Jungfrau, ein’ Jungfrau zu nehmen?
Ich habe nicht es zu widersteh’n!
Taum’ ich, es ist unveränderlich! Hilf’ mir, Herr, ich kann nicht steh’n!

Siebenmal hab’ ich vergessen trotz alles deines Gesetz.
Irdischen Gedanken haben mich gegossen.
Ruf’ ich an den Namen meines Herrn.

© Stuart Moffatt 1998

The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 1998).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.

In vain

~ admin

In vain: words of conflict

In vain he fought: the lion’s head crushed his heart to leave him dead
His efforts failed, all strength was spent, like wounded prey, his soul was rent.
In vain he tried to d’stroy the worm ev’ry sinew stretched, ev’ry muscle firm,
But nought availed, no progress made each move made it did evade.

Daring all might then to defy in danger’s face, set to fly,
Careless, in hope to be set free he cried aloud, it cannot be!
Such words he spoke as he could feel to’all around with greatest zeal
Inspired at last to heavenly thought renewed to fight, so he fought.

Lion’s head in a mane of flame, insidious worm upon him came,
Night passed by day he could not stand gone all hope from his right hand.

Just as he fell a word did come under the emblem of God’s Son:
Do not fear the worm by night I destroyed it by my might.
The lion’s snare itself did catch have I not closed then the latch?

An answer then to all his woes now went forth against his foes.
No stand they made but fled outright eternal grace had won the fight.
An answer found in Sharon’s Rose now that God’s Son did interpose
New strength he gives to him by grace each day to live, new life embrace.

© Stuart Moffatt 1998

The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 1998).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.

O little town

~ admin

O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by
Yet in the dark street shineth the everlasting Light,
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts, the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in

O Holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.

Words: Phillips Brooks (1868) Music: Rebecca Cushen.
The copyright of the music is held by Rebecca Cushen (© 1998).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3 was produced using Myriad software.

Es ist gekommen

~ admin

Es ist gekommen: aber die Einsamkeit
des Tages wahnte sich in der grauen Morgenluft
Und wachsende Wolken flogen unter Himmels blauem Dach.

Es ist nicht gekommen: und die Einsamkeit
des wiederkehrenden Morgengrüsses schlich sich
wo niemand sie beobachtet unter Himmels tiefer Nacht:
Der Morgen ist gekommen.

Der Morgen ist gekommen, und die Leute
jauchzen laut, sondern in der finsteren Kammer
hörte man nicht deine Stimme
sah keine glänzenden Augen dort
sondern eher des Schweigens Stimme, und dunkles Licht.

Es ist gekommen: und die Einsamkeit bleibt immer allein.

It came: but the isolation of the day twisted itself in grey morning air and increasing clouds flew under sky blue roof.


It did not come: and the isolation of the recurring morning’s greeting twisted where nobody observed it under sky deep night:

The morning came.

The morning came, and the people rejoiced aloud, but in the dark chamber one did not hear not your voice saw no shining eyes there rather the silence’s voice, and dark light.



It came: and the isolation remains always alone.

© Stuart Moffatt 1998

ChoralWiki and Noteworthy Scriptorium

The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 1998).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.

Wenn der Schnee

~ admin

Wenn der Schnee – Georg Trakl 1887-1914

© Stuart Moffatt 1972

Wenn der Schnee ans Fenster fällt,
lang die Abendglocke läutet.
Vielen ist der Tisch bereitet
und das Haus ist wohl bestellt.

Mancher auf der Wanderschaft
kommt ans Tor auf dunklen Pfaden.
Golden blüht der Baum der Gnaden
aus der Erde kühlem Saft.

Wanderer tritt still herein.
Schmerz versteinerte die Schwelle.
Da erglänzt in reiner Helle
auf dem Tische Brot und Wein.

Georg Trakl

ChoralWiki and NoteWorthy Scriptorium

It was many years after it had been suggested to Coco that a very sensitive version of Trakl’s work had been produced by Anton Webern. Coco was not sure at the time that was a serious suggestion, but perhaps it had been an early work. In due course Coco found a copy which he has scored. You may hear and judge the results in this mp3. If you would like a copy of the midi file to improve the performance, Coco shall be quite happy to provide it, on the understanding that you will share a copy of the revised and improved file with him.

© Stuart Moffatt 2022

Midi files are produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The ogg and mp3 are produced using Myriad software.

The copyright of the music is held by Stuart Moffatt (© 1972).
The midi file was produced using Noteworthy Composer.
The mp3/ogg were produced using Myriad software.