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Speak Love
by Frank A. Wallace
Seven songs on the joys and sorrows of love for medium voice and guitar, op. 34; poetry by Henriette de Saussure Blanding
duration: 18 minutes
16 pages
completed March, 2005
world premiere April, 2005
various venues in Germany by Frank Wallace
Click here to download a sample of two songs, including a free complete copy of Song [see text below]
 View Sample Music
This song-cycle was conceived at an overnight stay at guitar scholar Thomas Heck's home in Santa Barbara in March, 2005. Speak Love is set to hauntingly beautiful love poems by Henriette de Saussure Blanding. Frank "fell in love" with Henriette, Anne Heck's grandmother, and her passionate poetry from 1911. She wrote the poems while still a teenager, he composed the first five songs within two weeks and debuted the cycle only a month later while on tour in Germany. Two songs were added in the summer of 2005. It is dedicated to various couples of the American guitar world including The Hecks, The Longs and The Danners.
Song
Were I a bird I would wing to thee,
Were I a lark I would sing to thee,
Were I a star I would shine for thee,
Were I a lover I'd pine for thee.
Were I the breeze I would blow for thee,
Were I the rose I would grow for thee,
Were I a wave I would break for thee,
Were I a heart I would ache for thee.
Were I the wind I would sigh for thee,
Were I a hero I'd die for thee,
None of these gifts can I give to thee,
Bid me, dear, only to live for thee.
Isolation
When I was but a child and knew not pain,
One day you clasped me closely to your breast,
And on my cheek your lips convulsive pressed,
While o'er my face the hot tears fell like rain.
That hour was long ago,
Then why today
When years have given me my rightful part
In the soul's sorrow, do you close your heart
To love, and smiling, turn your face away?
Gyre Publications
Copyright ©2005 Frank A. Wallace
All Rights Reserved - Gyre 2109
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