Program and Notes

 

Franz Liszt - Liebestrӓume “Love Dreams” No. 3 (romantic love)

 

Ludwig van Beethoven - Für Elise, WoO 59  (mysterious love)

 

Billie Eilish - “Wildflower” (love that haunts)

Billie Eilish - “my future” (love of self)

 

Piotr Ilyitch Tchaikovsky - January "By the Fireside”, Op. 37a (love for the seasons)

 

***Brief Intermission***

 

The Beatles - “In My Life” (nostalgic love)

 

J.S. Bach - Prelude in C major, BWV 846, Clavier-Ubung III No. 2, BWV 803 (religious love)

 

Charli xcx - “so I” (love for a friend)

 

Frederic Chopin - Mazurkas Op 7/2, Op 24/3 (love of country)

 

Claude Debussy - Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, from Children’s Corner (love of children)

Robert Schumann - “Child Falling Asleep,” “Dreaming,” Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (love of childhood)

 

Johannes Brahms - Romance, Op. 118/5 in F Major (romantic love)

 

Associated texts

 

Franz Liszt - Liebestrӓume “Love Dreams” No. 3 (romantic love)

Love as long as love you can
By Ferdinand Freliligrath

 

O love, as long as love you can, 

O love, as long as love you may, 

the time will come, 

When you will stand at the grave and mourn!

 

Be sure that your heart burns, 

And holds and keeps love

As long as another heart beats warmly

With its love for you

 

And if someone bears his soul to you

Love him back as best you can 

Give his every hour joy, 

Let him pass none in sorrow!

 

And guard your words with care, 

Lest harm flow from your lips!

Dear God, I meant no harm, 

But the loved one recoils and mourns. 

 

O love, love as long as you can!

O love, love as long as you may!

The time will come, the time will come,

When you will stand at the grave and mourn.

 

You will kneel alongside the grave

And your eyes will be sorrowful and moist,

– Never will you see the beloved again –

Only the churchyard’s tall, wet grass.

 

You will say: Look at me from below,

I who mourn here alongside your grave!

Forgive my slights!

Dear God, I meant no harm!

 

Yet the beloved does not see or hear you,

He lies beyond your comfort;

The lips you kissed so often speak

Not again: I forgave you long ago!

 

Indeed, he did forgive you,

But tears he would freely shed,

Over you and on your unthinking word –

Quiet now! – he rests, he has passed.

 

O love, love as long as you can!

O love, love as long as you may!

The time will come, the time will come,

When you will stand at the grave and mourn.

 

Billie Eilish - “Wildflower” (love that haunts)

Things fall apart, and time breaks your heart

I wasn't there, but I know

She was your girl, you showed her the world

You fell out of love, and you both let go

She was cryin' on my shoulder, all I could do was hold her

Only made us closer until July

And I know that you love me, you don't need to remind me

I should put it all behind me, shouldn't I?

But I see her in the back of my mind

All the time

Like a fever, like I'm burning alive

Like a sign

Did I cross the line?

Mm, hm

Well, good things don't last (good things don't last)

And life moves so fast (life moves so fast)

I'd never ask who was better (I'd never ask who was better)

'Cause she couldn't be (she couldn't be)

More different from me (more different from me)

Happy and free (happy and free) in leather

And I know that you love me (you love me)

You don't need to remind me (remind me)

Wanna put it all behind me, but, baby

I see her in the back of my mind (back of my mind)

All the time (all the time)

Feels like a fever (like a fever), like I'm burning alive (burning alive)

Like a sign

Did I cross the line?

You say no one knows you so well (so)

But every time you touch me, I just wonder how she felt

Valentine's Day, crying in the hotel

I know you didn't mean to hurt me, so I kept it to myself (oh)

And I wonder

Do you see her in the back of your mind?

In my eyes?

You say no one knows you so well

But every time you touch me, I just wonder how she felt

Valentine's Day, crying in the hotel

I know you didn't mean to hurt me, so I kept it to myself

 

Billie Eilish - “my future” (love of self)

I can't seem to focus

And you don't seem to notice

I'm not here

I'm just a mirror

You check your complexion

To find your reflection's all alone

I had to go

Can't you hear me?

I'm not comin' home

Do you understand?

I've changed my plans

'Cause I, I'm in love

With my future

Can't wait to meet her

And I, I'm in love

But not with anybody else

Just wanna get to know myself

I know supposedly I'm lonely now (lonely now)

Know I'm supposed to be unhappy

Without someone (someone)

But aren't I someone? (Aren't I someone? Yeah)

I'd (I'd) like to be your answer (be your answer)

'Cause you're so handsome (you're so handsome)

But I know better

Than to drive you home

'Cause you'd invite me in

And I'd be yours again

But I, I'm in love (love, love, love, love)

With my future

And you don't know her

And I, I'm in love (love, love)

But not with anybody here

I'll see you in a couple years

​

The Beatles - “In My Life” (nostalgic love)

There are places I'll remember
All my life, though some have changed.
Some forever, not for better;
Some have gone and some remain.

All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall.
Some are dead and some are living,
In my life I've loved them all.

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you.
And these mem'ries lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new.

Tho' I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before,
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In my life I love you more.

Tho' I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before,
I know I'll often stop and think about them,
In my life I love you more.

In my life I love you more.

 

Charli xcx - “so I” (love for a friend)

Always on my mind

(Every day, every night)

Your star burns so bright

(Why did I push you away?)

I was scared sometimes

You had a power like a lightnin' strike

When I'm on stage, sometimes I lie

Say that I love singin' these songs you left behind

(And I know you always said) "It's okay to cry"

So, I know I can cry, I can cry, so I cry

Wish I tried to pull you closer

You pushed me hard, made me focus

Your words, brutal, lovin', truthful

I was petrified

You're a hero and a human

Track was gone, I'd make excuses

You would say, "Come on, stay for dinner"

I'd say, "No, I'm fine"

(Now I really wish I stayed)

Always on my mind

(Every day, every night)

Your star burns so bright

(Why did I push you away?)

I was scared sometimes

You had a power like a lightnin' strike

When I'm on stage, sometimes I lie

Say that I love singin' these songs you left behind

(And I know you always said) "It's okay to cry"

So, I know I can cry, I can cry, so I cry

Guilty feelings keep me fractured

Got a phone call after Christmas

Didn't know how I should act

I watched you dance online

Your sounds, your words live on, endless

When I make songs, I remember

Things you'd suggest, "Make it faster"

Would you like this one?

(Maybe just a little bit?)

Always on my mind

(Every day, every night)

Your star burns so bright

(Why did I push you away?)

I was scared sometimes

You had a power like a lightnin' strike

When I'm on stage, sometimes I lie​​

Say that I love singin' these songs you left behind

(And I know you always said) "It's okay to cry"

So, I know I can cry, I can cry, so I cry

​

Claude Debussy - Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum, from Children’s Corner (love of children)

"A ma chère petite Chouchou, avec les tendres excuses de son Père pour ce qui va suivre. C. D." 

(To my dear little Chouchou, with tender apologies from her father for what follows)