Five songs to poems of Francis Ledwidge: for high voice (tenor) and piano, 1999

Five songs to poems of Francis Ledwidge. For high voice (tenor) and piano. [Music by Bryan Beaumont Hays]. Contents: 1. To Matty McGoona -- 2. My mother -- 3. When love and beauty wander away -- 4. By Faughan -- 5. To one who comes now and then. Dedication: in memory of Miss Pattie Marshall. The lyricist: Lance Corporal Francis Ledwidge (Irish poet and soldier of WW I), 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. 'B' Company, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Born August 19th, 1887, Slane, Co. Meath. Educated: Slane Board School. Killed: 31st July 1917. Aged 29 years. Artillery Wood Cemetery Boesinghe, Belgium. 1. To Matty McGoona (Who came one day when we were all gloomy and cheered us with sad music). We were all sad and could not weep, because our sorrow had not tears: you came a silent thing like sleep, and stole away our fears. 2. My mother: God made my mother on an April day, from sorrow and the mist along the sea, lost birds' and wanderers' songs and ocean spray, and the moon loved her wandering jealously. 3. When love and beauty wander away: When love and beauty wander away, and there's no more hearts to be sought and won, when the old earth limps thro' the dreary day, and the work of the seasons cry undone: ah! what shall we do for a song to sing, who have known beauty, and love, and spring? 4.By Faughan: For hills and woods and streams unsung I pipe above a rippled cove. And here the weaver autumn hung between the hills a wind she wove from sounds the hills remember yet of purple days and violet. 5. To one who comes now and then: When you come in, it seems a brighter fire crackles upon the hearth invitingly, the household routine which was wont to tire grows full of novelty. Ledwidge, Francis high voice (tenor) 323 total; 1 (81), 2 (74), 3 (36), 4 (87), 5 (45) Song cycles.