Music of the Dance

For roommate night, we enjoyed the Northwestern College Faculty Artist Series, and heard Flutist Michele Frisch and her ensemble with Harpist Kathy Kienzle, the 'Bell Alma Duo, perform a wonderful show. Operatic, ballet and dance music by long gone composers was re-invigorated and sometimes re-arranged for flute and harp (with special guest viola). It echoed through Nazareth Chapel and inspired the words below...and we topped off St. Patrick's Day night with Shamrock shakes. Bravo!

Mario Broeders, Three Pieces for Flute and Harp

Marble blushes

with the thought

that marble's maker

should be sought

sold, traitored, hung.

Marble's maker crushed

and life re-begun.

Serge Prokofiev, Morning Serenade (Aubade) from the ballet Romeo and Juliet

I sing in the morning,

I dance,

spring up though one sleeps

veiled in cold death.

Through her window, does her heart beat to my song?

I am greatly distressed,

she does not join me,

'ere long,

never to join again.

Aram Khachaturian, Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia, from the ballet Spartacus

Led down long and dusty path, minutes left.

Longing, violence awaits.

These hands shackled,

oh but to- would it be better?-

I shudder the thought but fear your fate

my love, my love.

I see her no more
and quietly plot

stoic face until my jailer rewards himself with a draught,

and slashed, his head

hangs, where is she stayed?

Find her I must- help!-

Cloaked, with bribe money spent,

and another fool lays dead.

And my beloved in my arms,

we are fled.

Alexander Glazunov, Petite Adagio from the ballet the Seasons

Blessed bliss of seasons turne

Forgotten not the summer lark song,
Along side a frost-bittten burn,

Which winter's shade shall spurn,
Then, wings to spring and mark,

summer's fern.

When autumn komt,
Ich weiss nicht vergessen,

Red leaves and crisp air press in

to escort the frost, the ice, the snow

the clouded sky, the north country blow,

for surely waiting brings blessed fruit,

and from deepest sorrow shoots happy root

All bourne from Creator's lute.

Joseph Lauber, Quarte Danses Medievales, Op. 45

Such a clarion call

to beauty's spell

a chill in the air

yet spring's blossom smell

assures self of hope

'neath the March of snow;

of life beyond death's hold,

of a perish-less frame beyond this decay,

of unstained garments beyond this day's pains.

M. Roesgen-Champion, Danse Rituelle

Silver wand,

mirth maker.

Golden bow,

earth shaker.

You hum and resonate,

you call and herald fate!

(Is this not heaven, endless tunes to praise His name?)

Manuel de Falla, Spanish Dance No. 1 from the opera La Vida Breve

Her heart, broke.

She died.

I hope he carries that

grief all the days of his life.