Program - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

Tanzen zu zweien . . . Dance in pairs . . .
Junge und schöne
Töchter und Söhne,
Enkel nicht minder
reizend als Kinder.
Young and beautiful
daughters and sons,
and grandchildren no less
charming than children.
Tanzen zu zweien . . . Dance in pairs . . .
Junges Gelichter,
ihr seid nicht Richter;
Jünglinge, wählet,
eh’ es euch fehlet!
Young rascals,
you are not judges;
young men, choose
before you miss out!
Tanzet zu zweien . . . Dance in pairs . . .
(Tra la la . . .) (Tra la la . . .)
Not an End of Loving
Music by Steven Sametz
Where I Become You
Text by Antjie Krog
Where I become you,
there where I am you
have become you
I sing beyond myself
light pulses of quicksilver song
a thing cast beyond all humankind
We Two Boys Together Clinging
Text by Walt Whitman
We two boys together clinging,
One the other never leaving,
Up and down the roads going—North and South excursions making,
Power enjoying—elbows stretching—fingers clutching,
Arm’d and fearless—eating, drinking, sleeping, loving,
No law less than ourselves owning—sailing, soldiering, thieving, threatening,
Misers, menials, priests alarming—air breathing, water drinking, on the turf or the sea-beach dancing,
Cities wrenching, ease scorning, statutes mocking, feebleness chasing,
Fulfilling our foray.
Not an End of Loving
Text by Alcuin of York and adapted from a
translation by Waddell
Come make an end of singing,
come make an end of grief,
but not an end of loving,
no ne’er an end of love.
I made this song, beloved,
with bitter weeping eye,
and yet I know that by God’s grace
we two shall see each other’s face,
and stand together hearts as one,
those constant hearts shall rest as one.
Come make an end of singing,
come make an end of grief,
but not an end of loving,
no not an end of love,
no ne’er an end of love.
This Marriage
Music by Eric Whitacre
Text by Mevlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good
name,
an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
A Village Wedding
Music by Sir John Tavener
Text by Angelos Sikelianos
To my beloved, who breaks my heart.
Do you listen within your veil,
Silent, God-quickened heart?
(O depth and stillness of Virginity!)
Follow your man.
Let them throw white rice
Like a spring shower.
May you—her mystical image . . .
Like a spring cloud let her now tenderly spread her
bridal veil.
O the peace of the bridal dawn.
And he listens.
And as in front of a fount of crystal water
Let the girls pass in front of the bride,
Observing her look from the corner of their eyes
As though balancing pitchers on their heads.
O like Leto giving birth to Apollo.
(Do you listen within your veil?)
When, standing, her hands slight and pale.
(Let them throw white rice)
She clasped the ethereal palm tree on Delos, . . .
(Like a spring cloud)
May you—her mystical image . . .
(O the peace of the bridal dawn.)
Held by your husband’s strong heart,
(And he listens.)
Bring into the world
With a single cry your child as the
Poet brings forth his creation.
Refrain: O Isaiah, dance for joy, for the Virgin is with
child.
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