Live performance at Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels on 3 June 2012 chorus: Octopus Symphony Chorus orchestra: Le Concert d'Anvers conductor: Bart Van Reyn soprano: Ida Falk Winland tenor: Yves Saelens bass: Birger Radde more info: www.octopusensembles.be RECITATIVE Simon (bass): Mothers are spinning with distaffs, their daughters with the spinning wheel; and their toil is enlivened by an artless, happy song. SOPRANO & CHORUS Chorus: Purring, whirring, work, my little wheel! Hannah (soprano): Twist long and fine, my little wheel, twist a fine, neat thread to make a kerchief for my breast. Chorus: Purring, whirring, work, my little wheel! Hannah (soprano): Shuttle, weave both soft and fine, finely weave the kerchief I shall wear at Easter. Chorus: Purring, whirring, work, my little wheel! Hannah (soprano): Outwardly bright and inwardly pure will the breast of a maiden be when her kerchief is becoming. Chorus: Purring, whirring, work, my little wheel! Fair without and pure within industrious, pious and modest be, to attract a worthy suitor. Fair without and pure within, etc. RECITATIVE Lucas (tenor): The flax has all been spun, and now the wheel stands silent. The circle has drawn closer and the menfolk gather round it to listen to the latest story Hannah has to tell. SOPRANO & CHORUS Hannah (soprano): A nobleman that once did love a maid who held her honour dear, on finding her alone at last set about wooing her. Dismounting from his horse, he said: Come, kiss your lord, my dear! Alarmed and frightened, she cried out: Oh! Oh yes, with all my heart! Chorus: Oh, why did she not say no? Hannah (soprano): Be not alarmed, dear child, he said, but give your heart to me, for my love is sincerely meant, I do not trifle or jest. I'll make you happy, take this gold, this ring, this golden watch, and if there is anything else you'd like you only have to tell me. Chorus: Aha, that sounds too smooth! Hannah (soprano): Oh no, she said, you are too bold, my brother might have seen us, and if he tells my father, I don't know what would happen! He's ploughing in a nearby field, he could be watching us. Just go and look, from yonder hill you might see him ploughing. Chorus: Ho ho, now what will happen? Hannah (soprano): While the squire went off to look, the clever girl did leap upon his black horse, and flew off as swiftly as the wind. Farewell, she cried, my gracious lord, so I avenge my shame! Quite rooted to the spot, he stood gaping after her. Chorus: Ha, ha, ha, ha, she did do well, she did do well, ha, ha, etc RECITATIVE Simon (bass): Now from the arid east a biting, icy breath is blowing. It slices through the air consuming the very mists and even catching at the cattle's breath. The dominance of Winter, that dread tyrant, is complete, and all the natural world is mute with terror.