Saturday, October 29, 2016

Let Me Go: the holographic score/lyric sheet

If you ever wonder what musicians have on their stands, here's the working score of Let Me Go (Aus meines Herzens Grunde). As near as I can tell, this dates from sometime in the late 1980's or early 1990's.

The first verse is at 3:00 (though the chorale that starts the track begins at 5:00; presumably, since the first strain of the chorale is played twice--before v. 1 and v. 2--this was done to economize on space), but the instructions in the upper left hand corner clearly say "CIRCULAR - START ANYWHERE." The hand-written music covers a mustachioed person in a blue dress and high heels.

The chorale is a J.S. Bach harmonization of Johannes Mathesius hymn. 


Here are the lyrics: 

Fronds of balsam riming
Shrouds of whispered ice
Cabin fire
Smoke-inspired
Dreaming
Take me out of the stable
Let me go, let me run
Let the smell of the spirit guide me
In the wake of the sun

Redbud hillsides spatter
Springtime's holy blood
Leafy lace
Earth embrace
Hymen
Take me into the wedding
Let me go, let me run
Let the trumpet of yearning call me
Into the house of the sun

Deep green pools awaken
The nightly dance of love
Fireflies
Moonlight cries
Omen
Take me out to the water
Let me go, let me run
Let the waves of freedom wash me
Onto the sands of the sun

Burning pasts of autumn
Old trees blazing red
Blue sky
Opens wide
Amen
Take me back to the pasture
Let me go, let me run
Let the ghosts of mourning ride me
Let me sleep in the sun