Three Short Songs

For soprano and vibraphone

2014

A Dream
Welcome Sweet Pleasure
Sleep, Darksome, Deep

David Dean Mendoza

Program Notes
Three Short Songs for soprano and vibraphone was written in the summer 2014 for
the Resound Duo. For the source material of this composition, I chose three
contrasting poems by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Thomas Weekles, and Paul Verlaine. In
order to fuse these different texts, I used modal patterns based on the pitch D.

Performance Notes
The performers may be as dramatic as they wish. They may exaggerate the
performance with consumes and lighting. Generally, the use of mallet is left to the
performer, but legato articulations should be preferred. The vibraphone should
accompany the soprano and never over power her.
Bent notes are executed by striking the bar with a medium/soft mallet then quickly
using a hard mallet to slide outward on the bar away from the performer. This will most
likely make a half step gliss/bend on the note. In addition, measures 50-51, 61-63, and
similar measures are rhythmically the same as .

A Dream
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

That was a curious dream; I thought the three

Great planets that are drawing near the sun
With such unerring certainty begun
To talk together in a mighty glee.
They spoke of vast convulsions which would be
Throughout the solar systemthe rare fun
Of watching haughty stars drop, one by one,
And vanish in a seething vapour sea.
I thought I heard them comment on the earth
That small dark objectdoomed beyond a doubt.
They wondered if live creatures moved about
Its tiny surface, deeming it of worth.
And then they laughedtwas such a singing shout
That I awoke and joined too in their mirth.

Welcome Sweet Pleasure

Ballets and Madrigals to Five Voices
By Thomas Weekles (1598)

Welcome, sweet pleasure,

My wealth and treasure;
To haste our playing
Theres no delaying,
No no!
This mirth delights me
When sorrow frights me.
Then sing we all
Fa la la la la!
Sorrow, content thee,
Mirth must prevent thee:
Though much thou grievest
Thou none relieves.
No no!
Joy, come delight me,
Though sorrow spite me.
Then sing we all
Fa la la la la!
Grief is disdainful,
Sottish and painful:
Then wait on pleasure,
And lose no leisure.
No no!
Hearts ease it lendeth
And comfort sendeth

Sleep, Darksome, Deep

By Paul Verlaine

Sleep, darksome, deep,

Doth on me fall:
Vain hopes all, sleep,
Sleep, yearnings all!

Lo, I grow blind!

Lo, right and wrong
Fade to my mind
O sorry song!

A cradle, I,
Rocked in a grave:
Speak low, pass by,
Silence I crave!