...jy die pad...
for soprano and piano
Composition Details
Instrumentation | Soprano, Piano |
Duration | c. 15′ |
Year of composition | 2015 |
Lyrics/text | Ingrid Jonker |
Movements
- Opdrag (Ontvlugting, 1956)
- Ek het gaan soek na my eie hart (Rook en Oker, 1963)
- Gistraand (Rook en Oker, 1963)
- Ramkietjieliedjie (Rook en Oker, 1963)
- Afskeid (Ontvlugting, 1956)
Composer’s Statement
This song cycle consists of settings of five poems by South African poet, Ingrid Jonker. My conceptual ideas for each song can be summarised as follows.
Opdrag
In Opdrag I introduce a short cell in the piano. This cell is expanded and imitated by two voice line. This cell also transposes with semitones, and explores different pitch classes of the chromatic scale. A new motif later emerges that supports the soprano.
Ek het gaan soek na my eie hart
For this song, I worked with two cells, each derived from Set Theory principles. The first cell (Bb, C, Db) and its compliment – the second cell – (D, Eb, F) are used as a basis throughout the composition, but different transpositions, passing tones, and instances of the sets were employed.
Gistraand
In this song, I devoted the majority of the material for the right hand to the white keys of the piano and the majority of the material for the left hand to the black keys of the piano. I used a short motif that repeats, get out of sync and back into sync again.
Ramkietjieliedjie
The material of Ramkietjieliedjie is a combination of the three songs mentioned above. I wanted to combine the conceptual ideas in a single song, and also create a sense of unity among the different songs.
Afskeid
When I composed Afskeid, I wanted to follow a more through-composed form where the accompaniment follows the emotion expressed in the text. This song also works more with melody and conventional harmony, rather than abstract conceptual ideas.
Translation of Texts
I Wees jy die pad waarlangs ek weer kaalvoet deur die dubbeldorings loop na waar die varing en die varkblom bloei – die gousblom kranse oor die velde knoop… | I Be the road which I take back over the devil’s thorns, barefoot striding to where the fern and arum-lily bloom – the daisies in the fields garlands entwine… |
II
Ek het gaan soek na my eie hart en lank nadat ek verdwaal het in die dae wat verbytrek met hul lower in die lug blou van verte en afsydigheid het ek gedink dat ek my hart sou vind waar ek jou oë die twee bruin vlinders gehou het en ek het die swalu sien opvlieg en skaduwees spreeus | II I went in search of my own heart and long after I got lost in the days that passed with frond in the sky blue of distance and detachment I thought that I would find my heart where I kept your two brown butterfly eyes and the swallows be seen to rise and starlings’ shadows |
III gistraand in jou arms by die perdeskoenmaan pluk ons ‘n klawer met vier blare aan vandag bly ek staan op die werf by die blik my hart agterdogtig soos ‘n hoender wat pik aan een korrel – ‘n klip wat skeur deur die hange die liefde’s niks anders as die verlange | III last night in your arms at the horseshoe-shaped moon we picked a clover with four leaves upon today I am still standing in the yard on the patch my heart is distrustful like a chicken that scratch at one grain a rock that rips through the hangings love is nothing else but my longing |
IV Net waar ek gaan is ‘n pad voor my oop wat skerp uit my oë soos ‘n litteken loop Hoe die dag ook verblou of rooikam om my ek volg net my hartseer en die naambord is jy | IV Wherever I go an open path lies ahead which runs sharp-angled from my eyes like a scar However the day progresses orange red and blue I follow my pain and road sign has your name |
V Dit was jou laaste onversoenb’re wens Dit lê my laaste hoop aan bande Daarna was ek nie meer dieselfde mens en staan ek met jou skraal groet in my hande En leef jy in portrette en ou drome en leef jy in my siel volmaak en vry: Wit vlieg die voëls verby die bome Uit tien wit briewe spreek jou stem tot my. Toe moes ek my van andere afwend En toe my ongeneesbaarheid vermoed Jy sal jouself vir my nooit skend Want in my hande lê jou laaste groet. | V It was your last unforgiving fancy It limits my last hope to strands After this I was not the same me and your thin greeting I now have in my hands You live in portraits and time-worn dreams and you live in my soul complete and free: White birds are flying past the trees From ten white letters your voice speaks out to me. From others I had to avert myself And then suspect my incurability For me you’ll ne’er defile yourself in my hand lies your last farewell. |
Original texts: Ingrid Jonker
Translated texts: Ann-Lize Boshoff
Music Score
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