CANTUS – ALONE TOGETHER texts
Due to copyright restrictions the following texts are available:

[2] You I. You, here… now – Libby Larsen (b. 1950)

-Emily Dickinson

You
You, here
You,
now
now You, hear
You hear now.
You
You, here.
You, now.
You

You cannot put a Fire out —
A Thing that can ignite
Can go, itself, without a Fan —
Upon the slowest night —

You cannot fold a Flood —
And put it in a Drawer —
Because the Winds would find it out —
And tell your Cedar Floor —

[4] You II. You, now… know – Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
-Edna St. Vincent Millay

You,
You, now
You,
know
now, You know.
You Know now.
Now you know. You
now you
now you know.

My Candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends — 

It gives a lovely light!

[5] Gesang der Mönche – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)

Rasch tritt der Tod den Menschen an,
Es ist ihm keine Frist gegeben;
Es stürzt ihn mitten in der Bahn,
Es reißt ihn fort vom vollen Leben.
Bereitet oder nicht zu gehen!
Er muß vor seinem Richter stehen! 

(Translation)

Quickly comes death to a person,
He is not given a grace period.
It throws him in the middle of the train,
It sweeps him away from full life.
Prepared to go or not!
He must stand before his judge.

[7] You III. You, know…are, who – Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
— Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

You
You, know
where
You, are…
You, are…who
who are You
Who are you?

I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you — Nobody — Too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don’t tell! they’d advertise — you know!
How dreary — to be — Somebody!
How public — like a Frog —
To tell one’s name — the livelong June —
To an admiring Bog!

 

[11] You IV.  You, here… need – Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
-Emily Dickinson and -Edna St. Vincent Millay

You, are…
You,
You, are… here
here You,
need
love
You need love

Wild Nights — Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!

And if I loved you Wednesday,
Well, what is that to you?
I do not love you Thursday —
So much is true.

And why you come complaining
Is more than I can see.
I loved you Wednesday, — yes — but what
Is that to me?

[14] Calme des Nuits (Stillness of the Night) – Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921)

Calme des nuits, fraîcheur des soirs,
Vaste scintillement des mondes,
Grand silence des antres noirs
Vous charmez les âmes profondes.
L’éclat du soleil, la gaité,
Le bruit plaisent aux plus futiles;
Le poète seul est hanté
Par l’amour des choses tranquilles.

 

(Translation)

Stillness of the night, cool of the evening,
Vast shimmering of the spheres,
Great silence of black vaults
Deep thinkers delight in you.
The bright sun, merriment,
And noise amuse the more frivolous;
Only the poet is possessed
By the love of quiet things

[16] You V. You, here…are know, love – Libby Larsen (b. 1950)

You
You, here, You,
now
You, know
You, know love.
You, love, here.
You, are… here
You, love here are…You, love
Are…You, love?
You, are…love.

[18] Chinese Proverb – Sharon Durant
Text attributed to Confucious

Where there is light in the soul,
There is beauty in the person.
Where there is beauty in the person,
There is harmony in the home.
Where there is harmony in the home,
There is honor in the nation.
Where there is honor in the nation,
There is peace in the world.