from a Serbian epic (Volkslieder (Folksongs), set by J. Weir) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


 In the lovely village of Nevesinje,
 Bey Lujibovic writes a letter
 and sends it to the Rocky Piva,
 into the hands of Bey Pivlyanahin:

 "Listen you, Bey Pivlyanahin,
 You bit right into my heart, for you killed my brother.
 Ahi! Ahi!
 Come out you, I dare you to fight!
 I give you three choices:
 First at the rocky Korita,
 second on Trusina Hill,
 the third, where ever we should meet by chance:
 If you lack the courage to fight,
 I will send you an embroidering frame and a distaff,
 and moreover an Egyptian cotton reel with a boxwood spindle;
 you may weave for me a shirt and a lacy apron."

 When the letter reached Baya,
 he understood the contents:
 he reached for his inkwell,
 and wrote the Bey an answer.

Input by Clive Robinson

Authorship

Volkslieder (Folksongs)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Judith Weir (1954-)

Songs from the Exotic

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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