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Author: Sappho (fl. c610-c580 BCE)

Σαπφώ
Ψάπφω

Texts set to music [warning - not necessarily comprehensive]

[x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database
* indicates that a text cannot (yet?) be displayed on this site because of its copyright status.

Note: titles are in bold and first lines are in italics.
A blue rectangle containing a language code such as ENG indicates the presence of a translation to that language. A grey rectangle such as FRE indicates a particular translation (usually one set to music) exists but is missing.

A lyric (The vigil) - W. Baines (Text: after Sappho) [x]
À une femme aimée (Il me paraît égal aux dieux ) ENG
À une jeune grecque (De la belle Timar c'est ici le tombeau ) - C. Gounod ENG
An absent friend - N. Rorem (Text: after Sappho) [x] *
An Aphrodite (Ποικιλόθρον’ ἀθάνατ’) - J. Loewe GER ENG GER
An Aphrodite (Golden thronend, ewige Aphrodite ) - J. Loewe ENG
An meinem bett stand sie (An meinem bett stand sie ) - A. Scartazzini *
An meinem bett stand sie *
A. Scartazzini: An meinem bett stand sie

Aphrodite! Listreiche Tochter des Zeus! (Aphrodite! Listreiche Tochter des Zeus! ) - H. Reutter ENG [x] *
Aphrodite! Listreiche Tochter des Zeus! ENG [x] *
H. Reutter: Aphrodite! Listreiche Tochter des Zeus!

At the end of the bough, at the top of the tree (from Here are Ladies)
H. Spier: Sweet apple

Bridal song (O fair, O lovely! As the sweet apple ) - G. Bantock
Daughter of Zeus GER GER
G. Bantock: Hymn to Aphrodite

De la belle Timar c'est ici le tombeau ENG
C. Gounod: À une jeune grecque

Δέδυκε μὲν ἀ σελάννα ENG ITA GER FRE ENG GER
Delicate Adonis is dying, Cytherea; what shall we do? ITA FRE
Der mond in der dämmerung (Der mond in der dämmerung ) (from Die Erfindung der Poesie) - A. Scartazzini ENG ITA FRE
Der mond in der dämmerung (from Die Erfindung der Poesie) ENG ITA FRE
A. Scartazzini: Der mond in der dämmerung

Die sterne gehen wie kienspäne (Die sterne gehen wie kienspäne ) - A. Scartazzini *
Die sterne gehen wie kienspäne *
A. Scartazzini: Die sterne gehen wie kienspäne

Dieser morgen war (Dieser morgen war ) - A. Scartazzini *
Dieser morgen war *
A. Scartazzini: Dieser morgen war

Du! Unter Blumen auf goldenem Thron *
A. Reimann: Du! Unter Blumen auf goldenem Thron

E le Cretesi con armonia sui piedi leggeri cominciarono ENG FRE
L. Dallapiccola: Piena splendeva la luna

Épitaphe de la jeune Timas (Les cendres de la charmante Timas ) ENG
Ἔρος δ’ ἐτίναξέ μοι ENG ITA GER FRE ENG GER
Éros, qui donne la douleur (Éros qui donne la douleur, Éros qui tisse les mensonges ) - C. Chaynes ENG ITA GER ENG GER (Text: after Sappho)
Éros qui donne la douleur, Éros qui tisse les mensonges ENG ITA GER ENG GER (Text: after Sappho)
C. Chaynes: Éros, qui donne la douleur

Ἔσπερε, πάντα φέρῃς, ὄσα φαίνολις ἐσκέδασ’ Αὔως ENG ITA GER FRE
Ἔσπερε, πάντα φέρῃς (Ἔσπερε, πάντα φέρῃς, ὄσα φαίνολις ἐσκέδασ’ Αὔως ) ENG ITA GER FRE
Evening song (Evening, thou bringest all that bright morning scattered ) - G. Bantock ITA GER FRE
Evening, thou bringest all that bright morning scattered ITA GER FRE
G. Bantock: Evening song

Evening, thou that bringest ITA GER FRE
Φαίνεταί μοι κῆνοσ ἴͅσοσ θέοισιν ENG FRE
J. Novák: Ode amatoria

Flowers for the Graces - N. Rorem (Text: after Sappho) [x] *
Golden thronend, ewige Aphrodite ENG
J. Loewe: An Aphrodite

Gongyla, Gongyla, Gongyla, si je te vois un instant (Text: after Sappho)
C. Chaynes: Gongyla, Gongyla, si je te vois un instant

Gongyla, Gongyla, si je te vois un instant (Gongyla, Gongyla, Gongyla, si je te vois un instant) - C. Chaynes (Text: after Sappho)
Gottgesegnet, nah den Himmlischen *
A. Reimann: Gottgesegnet, nah den Himmlischen

Hesperos du bist der (Hesperos du bist der hirte des abends ) (from Die Erfindung der Poesie) - A. Scartazzini ENG ITA FRE *
Hesperos du bist der hirte des abends (from Die Erfindung der Poesie) ENG ITA FRE *
A. Scartazzini: Hesperos du bist der

Hesperus (Upon the sober sky thy robes are spread) (from Songs from the Clay) - F. May ITA GER FRE
Hesperus (Hesperus brings all things back ) (from The Secret of Death with some collected poems) - C. Macirone ITA GER FRE
Hesperus (O Hesperus, thou bringest all good things -- ) - J. Duke ITA GER FRE
Hesperus brings all things back (from The Secret of Death with some collected poems) ITA GER FRE
C. Macirone: Hesperus

Hesperus the Bringer (O Hesperus, thou bringest all good things -- ) ITA GER FRE
J. Duke: Hesperus

Hespérus, tu apportes avec toi tous les bonheurs : ENG ITA GER
Heureuse ici près de toi - G. Donizetti (Text: after Sappho) [x]
Hinunter ist schon der Mond (Hinunter ist schon der Mond) - H. Reutter ENG ITA FRE ENG [x] *
Hinunter ist schon der Mond ENG ITA FRE ENG [x] *
H. Reutter: Hinunter ist schon der Mond

Hymn to Aphrodite (Daughter of Zeus ) - G. Bantock GER GER
I love thee, Atthis, in the long ago (I loved thee, Atthis, in the long ago) (from Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics) - J. Coulthard
I loved thee, Atthis, in the long ago (from Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics)
J. Coulthard: I love thee, Atthis, in the long ago

I loved thee once, Atthis, long ago (I loved thee once, Atthis, long ago ) - G. Bantock
I loved thee once, Atthis, long ago
G. Bantock: I loved thee once, Atthis, long ago

Ich kann nicht weben ENG
Il me paraît égal aux dieux ENG
In a dream, I spake (In a dream, I spake with the daughter of Cyprus ) - G. Bantock
In a dream I spake with the daughter of Cyprus. ITA FRE
In a dream, I spake with the daughter of Cyprus
G. Bantock: In a dream, I spake

In der mitte des tages (In der mitte des tages ) - A. Scartazzini *
In der mitte des tages *
A. Scartazzini: In der mitte des tages

In gold sandals *
C. McTee: In gold sandals

In old days Kretan girls danced *
C. McTee: In old days Kretan girls danced

Invito all'Eràno (Venite al tempio sacro delle vergini) - G. Petrassi *
Io lungamente (Io lungamente ho parlato in sogno con Afrodite ) - L. Dallapiccola ENG FRE
Io lungamente ho parlato in sogno con Afrodite ENG FRE
L. Dallapiccola: Io lungamente

Κατθνάισκει, Κυθέρη᾽, ἄβρος Ἄδωνις∙ τί κε ENG ITA FRE
Κατθνάισκει, Κυθέρη᾽, ἄβρος (Κατθνάισκει, Κυθέρη᾽, ἄβρος Ἄδωνις∙ τί κε ) ENG ITA FRE
κέλομαί σε ITA
κέλομαί σε (κέλομαί σε ) ITA
Κρῆσσαί νύ ποτ’ ὦδ’ ἐμμελέως πόδεσσιν ENG ITA FRE
La lune et les Pléiades sont déjà couchées : ENG ITA GER ENG GER
Leave Krete and come to this holy temple *
C. McTee: Leave Krete and come to this holy temple

Les cendres de la charmante Timas ENG
Liebespein (Nein, süsse Mutter,/ Ich kann nicht weben ) - R. Barth ENG (Text: after Sappho) [x]
Liebespein (Ich kann nicht weben) ENG
Love - N. Rorem (Text: after Sappho) [x] *
Love let the wind cry (Love let the wind cry on the dark mountain ) (from Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics) - U. Moore GER
Love let the wind cry on the dark mountain (from Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics) GER
U. Moore: Love let the wind cry

Mother, I cannot mind my wheel (Mother, I cannot mind my wheel ) (from Simonidea) - N. Rorem, H. Barlow, C. Burleigh, A. Paucker, J. Edmunds, G. Foote, O. Morawetz GER GER
Mother, I cannot mind my wheel (from Simonidea) GER GER
N. Rorem, H. Barlow, C. Burleigh, A. Paucker, J. Edmunds, G. Foote, O. Morawetz: Mother, I cannot mind my wheel

Muore il tenero Adone (Muore il tenero Adone, o Citerea ) - L. Dallapiccola ENG FRE *
Muore il tenero Adone, o Citerea ENG FRE *
L. Dallapiccola: Muore il tenero Adone

Muse of the golden throne (Muse of the golden throne, O raise that strain ) - G. Bantock
Muse of the golden throne, O raise that strain
G. Bantock: Muse of the golden throne

Nein, süsse Mutter,/ Ich kann nicht weben ENG (Text: after Sappho) [x]
R. Barth: Liebespein

Nightingale, with your *
C. McTee: Nightingale, with your

Now in my heart I see clearly *
C. McTee: Now in my heart I see clearly

O fair, O lovely! As the sweet apple
G. Bantock: Bridal song

O Hesperus, thou bringest all good things -- ITA GER FRE
J. Duke: Hesperus

O mia Gongila (O mia Gongila, ti prego ) - L. Dallapiccola ENG *
O mia Gongila, ti prego ENG *
L. Dallapiccola: O mia Gongila

Ode amatoria (Φαίνεταί μοι κῆνοσ ἴͅσοσ θέοισιν) - J. Novák ENG FRE
Oscuro è il ciel (Oscuro è il ciel ) - I. Pizzetti ENG GER FRE SPA ENG GER
Oscuro è il ciel ENG GER FRE SPA ENG GER
I. Pizzetti: Oscuro è il ciel

Parting - N. Rorem (Text: after Sappho) [x] *
Peer of gods he seems (Peer of gods he seems, who sits in thy presence ) - G. Bantock
Peer of gods he seems, who sits in thy presence
G. Bantock: Peer of gods he seems

Piena splendeva la luna (Piena splendeva la luna ) - L. Dallapiccola ENG GER FRE
Piena splendeva la luna (E le Cretesi con armonia sui piedi leggeri cominciarono ) - L. Dallapiccola ENG FRE
Piena splendeva la luna ENG GER FRE
L. Dallapiccola: Piena splendeva la luna

Πλήρης μὲν ἐφαίνετ’ ἀ σελάννα ENG ITA GER FRE
Ποικιλόθρον’ ἀθάνατ’ GER ENG GER
J. Loewe: An Aphrodite

Seelenlos liegt dereinst da (Seelenlos liegt dereinst da) - H. Reutter [x] *
Seelenlos liegt dereinst da [x] *
H. Reutter: Seelenlos liegt dereinst da

Singet, ihr Mädchen, das Lied (Singet, ihr Mädchen, das Lied) - H. Reutter [x] *
Singet, ihr Mädchen, das Lied [x] *
H. Reutter: Singet, ihr Mädchen, das Lied

Stand face to face, friend (Stand face to face, friend.. ) - G. Bantock
Stand face to face, friend..
G. Bantock: Stand face to face, friend

Sweet apple (At the end of the bough, at the top of the tree) (from Here are Ladies) - H. Spier
That man seems to me peer of gods FRE
The dust of Timas (This dust was Timas; and they say ) (from Captain Craig - Variations of Greek Themes) FRE
F. Lewin: The dust of Timas

The moon has set (The moon has set, and the Pleiades ) - G. Bantock ITA GER FRE GER
The moon has set ITA GER FRE GER
The moon has set, and the Pleiades ITA GER FRE GER
G. Bantock: The moon has set

The moon rose full, and the women stood ITA GER FRE
The night closed their eyes *
C. McTee: The night closed their eyes

This dust was Timas'; FRE
This dust was Timas; and they say (from Captain Craig - Variations of Greek Themes) FRE
F. Lewin: The dust of Timas

This is the dust of Timas FRE
This is the dust of Timas FRE
Thus at times with tender feet the Cretan women dance ITA FRE
Tiakika, tiakika, gygyla ao gay kaoé (Tiakira, Tiakira, Gyla ) - C. Chaynes (Text: after Sappho)
Tiakira, Tiakira, Gyla (Text: after Sappho)
C. Chaynes: Tiakika, tiakika, gygyla ao gay kaoé

Τιμάδος ἅδε κόνις, ENG FRE
Tramontata è la luna (Tramontata è la luna ) - G. Petrassi ENG GER FRE ENG GER *
Tramontata è la luna ENG GER FRE ENG GER *
G. Petrassi: Tramontata è la luna

ζὰ δ' ἐλεξάμαν ENG ITA FRE
Tu es venue Gyla, tu as bien fait, comme j'avais envie de toi (Tu es venue Gyla. Tu as bien fait. Comme j'avais envie de toi) - C. Chaynes (Text: after Sappho)
Tu es venue Gyla. Tu as bien fait. Comme j'avais envie de toi (Text: after Sappho)
C. Chaynes: Tu es venue Gyla, tu as bien fait, comme j'avais envie de toi

Upon the sober sky thy robes are spread (from Songs from the Clay) ITA GER FRE
F. May: Hesperus

Venite al tempio sacro delle vergini *
G. Petrassi: Invito all'Eràno

Versunken ist der Mond ENG ITA FRE ENG *
A. Reimann: Versunken ist der Mond

Vespro, tutto riporti (Vespro, tutto riporti ) - L. Dallapiccola ENG GER FRE
Vespro, tutto riporti ENG GER FRE
L. Dallapiccola: Vespro, tutto riporti

Wie hernieder vom Berge Sturmwind stürzt (Wie hernieder vom Berge Sturmwind stürzt) - H. Reutter ENG [x] *
Wie hernieder vom Berge Sturmwind stürzt ENG [x] *
H. Reutter: Wie hernieder vom Berge Sturmwind stürzt

[x] indicates a placeholder for a text that is not yet in the database
* indicates that a text cannot (yet?) be displayed on this site because of its copyright status.