Yale University Masters Recital

James Reese, tenor

Antonia Chandler, horn
Tomoko Nakayama, piano
Grant Herreid, theorbo and guitar
Ezra Seltzer, cello

February 13, 2018

Texts and Translations

 Program

Songs of Empire: France, Spain, and the New World in the 17th Century
Que Dulcemente Suena (jose Marin)
Ojos pues me desdenais
No piense, Menguilla
Orilla del claro Tajo Sale (Etienne Moulinie)

Le doux silence de nos bois (Honore D’Ambruys)

Por la verde orilla (Moulinie)

Entre dos alamos verdes (Anonymous, 17th Century Peru)

Grant Herreid, lute and baroque guitar

Tomoko Nakayama, harpsichord
Ezra Seltzer, cello

Benjamin Britten - Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings

Prologue
Pastoral
Nocturne
Elegy
Dirge
Hymn
Sonnet
Epilogue

Tomoko Nakayama, piano
Antonia Chandler, horn

Hugo Wolf - Selections from Morike-Lieder

Jagerlied
Der Gartner
Zitronenfalter im April
Auf einer wanderung
Peregrina I
An die Geliebte
Gebet
 Note

I didn’t choose tonight’s program with the intention to make a poetic statement about the world.
It’s just music that I love, and that I find to be exciting and beautiful and rich. But the more I grow
with these songs, the more I find that they speak to the things I’m experiencing right now as I pre-
pare to (hopefully) graduate from Yale.

Throughout tonight’s music, there are so many moments on the cusp: the last seconds of being
awake, willing sleep to take our eyes; the very fragile space between two branches that stretch out
to meet each other; the cliffhanger as a gardener offers a flower up to a beautiful princess.

In the face of change - which, whether it’s big or small, is unfamiliar, scary, and anxious - Wolf’s song
offers that maybe the best move of all is to let go, to move slow, and to be easy. “Give me joy, or
give me suffering, but overwhelm me with neither. For it’s in the middle where sweet contentment
lies.”

That feels like a powerful thing to hold as the next chapter begins.

I hope that something in these songs is waiting to meet you where you are, too. Thank you for lis-
tening.

Love, Jimmy

There are so many people to thank:

- my parents, Ron and Sheila; as well as Mike and Maura, who have been my captive audi-
ence for 24 years and counting. Thank you also to the entire Reese and McBride families, for
their boundless enthusiasm and support.
- Jimmy Taylor, who has taught me so much and who gives the best hugs.
- my amazing, wonderful friends in the Voxtet: Will, Bradley, Addy, Haitham, Emily, Ashley,
Ned, and Matt. Who lift each other up!
- Tomoko Nakayama, superwoman.
- Ted Taylor, who is always ready on Fridays, no matter what kind of week I’ve had, to set me
right as rain.
- Laura Adam, and the entire ISM concert office.
- my glorious friends in Variant 6: Ellie, Rebecca, Dan, Steve, and Jess, who have lovingly
cheered me on from afar in the past two years. I hope they let me sing with them when I get
back.
- Jonatan Alvarado, and his incredible ensemble Seconda Pratica, who so generously shared
many scores, translations, and advice. The first half of tonight’s program was partly inspired
by their really wonderful album Nova Europa.
- Grant Herreid, who is brilliant. It’s an dream come true to work so much with Grant, who
blew me away when he came to Northwestern during my sophomore year to play with Piffa-
ro. 19-year-old Jimmy would be freaking out right now.
This recital is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Jack Hontz.
 Texts and Translations

¡Qué dulçemente suena How sweetly it sounds

Entre estos berdes sauçes Among these green willows.
Animada tÏorba Like an animated theorbo:
Un ruyseñor, emvidia de las aves! A mockingbird, the envy of the birds!

¡Suspende el llanto triste Stop your sad cry,

ó, ruyseñor süave oh, soft mockingbird.
Pues ves que los laureles Well, you see that the laurels
Sólo se hiçieron para los covardes! They only worked for the cowards!

Ojos pues me desdeñais Eyes, since you disdain me,

No me mireis Don’t look at me,
pues no quiero que logreis for I don’t wish that you achieve
el ver como me matais the look that kill me.

Cese el ceño y el rigor End the frowns and the severity;

Ojos, mirad que es locura eyes, behold what madness is:
arriesgar vuestra hermosura to risk your loveliness
por hazerme un disfavor by doing me a discourtesy.
Si no os corrige el temor If fear doesn’t cause you
de la gala que os quitais to lessen your charms,
No me mireis Don’t look at me,
pues no quiero que logreis for I don’t wish that you achieve
el ver como me matais the look that will kill me.

Y si el mostraros severos And if your severity

es mo más que por matarme is for nothing more than to kill me,
podeis la pena escusarme you may let me forgo the pain,
pues moriré de no veros For already I will die from not seeing you.
pero si no e deveros But if it is true
que de mí os compadezcais. that you want me to be at peace,
No me mireis Don’t look at me,
pues no quiero que logreis for I don’t wish that you achieve
el ver como me matais the look that will kill me
 Texts and Translations

No piense Menguilla ya Don’t think now, Menguilla,

Que se muero por sus ojos, That I die for your eyes:
Que e sido vovo asta aqui For I have been a dunce until now
Y no quiero ser mas vovo And I don’t want to be foolish anymore.

Para que es buena una nina Why is a girl considered good

Tan mal hallada entre pocos Who among a few is found to be so bad
Que no esta vien con el fenix For it is not ok with the phoenix
Porque le an dicho que es solo Because they told him he was alone.

O que lindo modo, Oh, what a pleasant way

Para que la dejen Some leave her:
unos por otros. One for another.

El mal gusto de Menguilla The displeasure of Menguilla

Es una casa de locos Is an insane asylum.
El tema manda al deseo The theme commands desire
Vaya la rracon al rollo To send reason away.

Mucho abandona lo vano Much she abandons the vain

Si poco estima lo hermoso As little she esteems the handsome.
La que por ser familiar She - already knowing him -
No repara en ser demonio. Isn’t bothered by being the devil.

O que lindo... Oh, what a pleasant way...

Yo no e de querer en bulla I don’t need to love confusedly,
Que es una fiesta de toros Which is like a running of the bulls
Donde a silbos se condena Where one who thinks he is favored
Quien piensa que es mas dichoso Is booed by the crowd.

Desigualdad y capricho Neither changeability nor caprice

No deja el manco ni cojo Leaves him maimed or lame,
Porque a quena de lo lindo Because the pretty one
No admite lo licencioso. Does not accept the licentious.

O que lindo modo... Oh, what a pleasant way...

 Texts and Translations

Orillas del claro Tajo On the shore of the Tajo

Sale la niña de plata The silver girl appears
Que sin razones la llevan Borne away for no reason
Celos y desesperada By jealousy and despair

“¡Pulidito barquero “Handsome boatman,
Lleva la barca!” Bring your boat!”
“Perdona niña hermosa, “Pardon me, fair lady,
Que está quebrada” For it is broken.”

¡Llega la barca! The boat arrives!

“Ay, ay Jesús, “Ay, ay, Saviour,
que me anegan mis llantos I am overcome with sorrow
Que celos y amores This jealousy, this love
me quieren matar” Threaten to kill me”

Mirando van los corrillos Ladies and gallant men
De galanes y de damas Watch and stand apart
Por ver si entre tanta gente To see if in so many people
Estase quien tiene su alma. Is the one who has their heart.

Viole en la margen del río He sees on the edge of the river,
Y apriessa el barquero llama The boatman swiftly calls
Para vengar en la orilla So she can see for herself
Su sospecha averiguada. If her love is there on the shore.

 Texts and Translations
Le doux silence de nos bois
N’est plus troublé que de la voix
Des oiseaux que l’amour assemble.
Bergère qui fais mes désirs
Voici le mois charmant des fleurs et des zéphyrs
Et la saison qui te ressemble.
Ne perdons pas un moment des beaux jours
C’est le temps des plaisirs
et des tendres amours.
Songeons en voyant le printemps
Qu’il en est un dans nos beaux ans
Qu’on n’a qu’une fois en sa vie
Mais c’est peu que d’y songer,
Il faut belle Philis le ménager,
Cette saison nous y convie.
Ne perdons pas un moment des beaux jours
C’est le temps des plaisirs
et des tendres amours.
Por la verde orilla del claro Tormes
Va corriendo la niña tras sus amores.
Por el prado ameno va corriendo aprisa
las aves se alegran con grande alegrilla
Muestran su armonia los ruyseńores.
The soft silence of our woods
Is now broken only by the songs
Of the birds that Love gathers here.
Shepherdess, my heart’s desire,
Behold the fair month of flowers and zephyrs,
And the season that resembles you.
Let’s lose not a moment of these fine days,
’Tis the time for pleasure
and tenderness in love.
Let’s dream as we watch the spring
That there is one such season in our youth,
That we have but one such time in our lives.
But dreaming of this is not enough,
We must, fair Phyllis, make it so,
The season does thus invite us.
Let’s lose not a moment of these fine days,
It is the time for pleasure
and tenderness in love.
On the green shore of the clear Tormes
The girl is running after her lover.
Through the pleasant meadow he runs quickly
The birds rejoice with great joy.
The mockingbirds show off their harmony.
 Texts and Translations

Between two green poplars

Entre dos álamos verdes
Arching together above
Que forman juntos un arco,
The Tajo’s flow is hushed
Por no despertar las aves
The birds go undisturbed
Andaba, callando, el Tajo
The loving branches
Juntar los troncos querían
Yearn to join their trunks
Los enamorados brazos,
But the jealous river
Pero el envidioso río
Won’t let arms embrace.
No deja llegar los brazos.

Silvio watches them
Atento los mira Silvio
From his painted rock
Desde un pintando peñasco
Surrounded by its sweet waters
Sobra de sus aguas dulces
The towers of its green fields.
Torre de sus verdes campos.
Silvio takes up his instrument
Tomó Silvio su instrumento
And to the complaints of his anguish
Y a las quexas de su agravio,
The mockingbirds of the woods
Los ruiseñores del bosque,
Respond singing.
La responderéis cantando.

You join your branches
Juntaréis vuestras ramas,
Tall poplars
Álamos altos,
Lulling the clear waters
En menguando las aguas
Of the Tajo
del claro Tajo.
But any misfortunes
Pero si hay desdichas
That last the years
que vencen años
Will grow through time
crecerán con los tiempos
Sorrows and tears
penas y agravios.
 Texts and Translations

Jägerlied Hunter’s Song

Zierlich ist des Vogels tritt im Schnee
Wenn er wandelt auf des Berges Höh
Zierlicher schreibt Liebchens liebe Hand
Schreibt ein Brieflein mir in ferne Land
In die Lüfte hoch ein Reiher steicht
Dahin weder Pfeil noch Kugel fleugt:
Tausendmal so hoch und so geschwind
Die Gedanken treuer Lieber sind
Gentle is the bird’s step in the snow
When it walks on the mountain’s height
Gentler yet is the hand of my beloved
When she writes me a note in a faraway land.
In the air a high heron rises
To where neither arrow or bullet can fly
A thousand times higher and swifter
Are the thoughts of a true love

Der Gärtner The Gardener

Auf ihrem Leibrösslein On her beloved small horse
So weiß wie der Schnee As white as the snow
Die schönste Prinzessin The most beautiful princess
Reit’t durch die Alee. Rides through the avenue.

Der Weg, den das Rösslein On the path, which the horse
Hintanzet so hold Prances down so smartly,
Der Sand, den ich streute The sand that I scattered
Er blinket wie Gold! Glitters like gold!

Du rosenfarb’s Hütlein You, rose-colored bonnet

Wohl auf und wohl ab Bobbing up and down
O wirf eine Feder O, throw a feather
Verstohlen herab! Discreetly down!

Und willst du dagegen And would you, for that feather

Eine Blüte von mir, Take a flower from me?
Nimm tausend für eine, Take one thousand for one,
Nimm alle dafür. Take everything for it.

Zitronenfalter im April Lemon-flowers in April

Grausame Frühlingssonne, Cruel spring sun,
Du weckst mich vor der Zeit You wake me before the time
Dem nur in Maienwonne When, only in the delight of May,
Die zarte Kost gedeiht! The delicate food flourishes!
Ist nicht ein liebes Mädchen hier, If there is not a dear girl here,
Das auf der Rosenlippe mir Who will upon her rosy lips
Ein Tröpfchen Honig beut, Offer me a drop of honey,
So muss ich jämmerlich vergehn Then I must perish miserably
Und wird der Mai mich nimmer sehn And May will never see me
In meinem gelben Kleid In my yellow suit.
 Texts and Translations
Auf einer wanderung
In ein freundliches Städtchen tret ich ein,
In den Straßen liegt roter Abendschein.
Aus einem offnen Fenster eben,
Über den reichsten Blumenflor hinweg
Hört man Goldglockentöne schweben,
Und eine Stimme scheint ein Nachtigallenchor,
Dass die Blüten beben,
Dass die Lüfte leben,
Dass in höherem Rot die Rosen leuchten vor.
Lang hielt ich staunend, lustebeklommen.
Wie ich hinaus vor’s Tor gekommen,
Ich weiß es wahrlich selber nicht.
Ach hier, wie liegt die Welt so licht!
Der Himmel wogt in purpurnem Gewühle
Rückwärts die Stadt in goldnem Rauch:
Wie rauscht der Erlenbach,
Wie rauscht im Grund die Mühle
Ich bin wie trunkel, irrgeführt
O muse, du hast meine Herz berührt
Mit einem Liebeshauch.
Peregrina I
Der Spiegel dieser treuen, braunen Augen
Ist wie von inner’m Gold ein Wiederschein;
Tief aus dem Busen scheint er’s anzusaugen
Dort mag solch Gold in hel’gem Gram gedeih’n.
In diese Nacht des Blickes mich zu tauchen,
Unwissend Kind, du selber lädst mich ein
Willst, ich soll kecklich mich und dich entzünden,
Reichst lächelnd mir den Tod, im Kelch der Sün-
den!
Out on a Walk
I walk into a friendly little town,
In the streets lies the red glow of sunset.
Through an open window just now,
Over the richest display of flowers
One can hear golden bell tones floating,
And one voice seems a choir of nightingales.
That the blossoms tremble,
that the breezes come alive,
And that the roses shine with a higher red.
Long was I stopped, amazed, held by pleasure.
How I passed through the town gate
I myself truly do not know.
Ah - here, how bright is the world!
The sky rocks in a purple tumult,
Looking back, the town is a golden haze:
How the alder brook babbles,
How the the mill, in the background, roars,
I have wandered off like a drunk,
Oh Muse: you have touched my heart
With a breath of love.
The mirror of these true, brown eyes
Is like an inner gold in a shining reflection
Which seems to be drawn deep from your bo-
som
Where such gold thrives in holy sorrow.
In the dark night of this gaze,
Innocent child, you yourself invite me
You want me boldly to ignite us both
Smiling - you offer me Death in a goblet of sin!
 Texts and Translations
An die Geliebte
Wenn ich, von deinmen Anschaunt tief gestillt
Mich stumm an deinem heil’gen Wer vergnüge,
Dann hör ich recht die leisen Atemzüge
Des Engels welcher sich in dir verhüllt.
Und ein erstaunt ein fragend Lächeln quillt
Auf meinem Mund, ob mich kein Traum betrüge,
Dass nun in dir, zu ewiger Genüge
Mein kühnster Wunsch, mein einz’ger, sich er-
füllt?
Von Tiefe dann zu Tiefen stürzt mein Sinn
Ich höre aus der Gottheit nächt’ger Ferne
Die Quellen des Geschicks melodisch rauschen
Betäubt kehr ich den Blick nach oben hin.
Zum Himmel auf, da lächeln alle Sterne;
Ich knie, ihrem Lichtgesang zu lauschen.
Gebet
Herr, schicke wass du willt
Ein Liebes oder Leides
Ich bin vergnügt, dass Beides
Aus deinen Händen quillt
Wollest mit Freuden und wollest mit Leiden
Mich nicht überschütten!
Doch in der Mitten
Liegt holdes Bescheiden.
To the Beloved
When I, deeply calmed by your presence,
Take silent delight in your holy worth,
Then I truly hear the gentle breathing
Of the angel that is concealed within you.
An an amazed, questioning smile springs
To my lips; is it not a dream that deceives me,
That now, in you, to my eternal satisfaction,
My boldest wish, my only wish, is fulfilled?
From depths to depths my mind plunges,
I hear in divinity’s nocturnal distance
The melodious rushing of the springs of fate.
Dazed, I turn my gaze upwards, to what is above.
To heaven: there, all the stars are smiling.
I kneel to listen to their song of light.
Prayer
Life, give me what you will.
Love or sorrow.
It is enough to know that both
Are made in your hands.
Give me joy, and give me suffering.
But overwhelm me with neither.
For it is in the middle
Where lies sweet contentment.