Sheng Sheng Man 声声慢 (2021)

Text by Li Qingzhao 李清照 (1084 – ca. 1151) / English translation by the composer

寻寻觅觅 冷冷清清
凄凄惨惨戚戚
乍暖还寒时候 最难将息
三杯两盏淡酒 怎敌他
晚来风急
雁过也 正伤心
却是旧时相识
满地黄花堆积
憔悴损 如今有谁堪摘
守著窗儿独自 怎生得黑
梧桐更兼细雨
到黄昏 点点滴滴
这次第 怎一个愁字了得

I seek
cold and lonely
in vain

the cold spells after warmer days
are the toughest to bear
wine is no match for the winds

migrating geese, the same ones from spring

withered yellow petals on the ground
no one to sweep them up

keeping watch at the window alone
wondering when night falls

the soft rain patters on as night descends
sorrow is an understatement

Performance history:

Austin, TX: Chorus Austin [Ryan Heller]
Cambridge, MA: Radcliffe Choral Society [Andrew Clark]