John Glenesk Mortimer
Let Us Live and Love
for Baritone & Violin, Viola, Contrabass & Piano
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John Glenesk Mortimer
Let Us Live and Love
for Baritone & Violin, Viola, Contrabass & Piano
- Instrumentation Voice (medium), Violin, Viola, Double Bass and Piano
- Composer John Glenesk Mortimer
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Difficulty Level
- Edition Piano Score and Part(s)
- Publisher Editions Marc Reift
- Order no. EMR51861
ships within 1-2 weeks
Description:
This is a cycle of four songs based on poems by the Latin poet Catullus (ca. 84-54 BC). The poet was passionately in love with a married woman whom he calls Lesbia, but whose real name was Clodia. It is thought that they may have had a brief affair, but she did not really love him - a truth he eventually realizes. The first poem is about Lesbia's sparrow, which she loves more than anything and constantly plays with. Catullus is jealous of the bird and wishes that his lover paid as much attention to it as she does to her pet. The second poem is probably the most famous in Latin literature, Vivamus atque amemus, which gives the entire cycle its title. In it, Catullus urges Lesbia to give herself over to love and kisses: "Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then a thousand again...". In the third song, Lesbia's sparrow has died and she is inconsolable. Again, this sad event distracts her from the poet's amorous intentions. Finally, in the last song, Catullus realizes how little Lesbia is interested in him and becomes angry: "Catullus will no longer beg for favours, but you will be frustrated when he no longer pursues you. Who will want you now?"