Piano Variations

[atsinaip1393]

This is a question: I am trying to determine the date of composition of a set of variations for piano solo on the song "The Last Rose of Summer." I'm not even sure that Beethoven wrote such a set. Anyone know anything about it? It doesn't appear in the catalogue of works at the Beethoven Refernce site. Thanks

[Amalie]

Originally posted by atsinaip1393:
This is a question: I am trying to determine the date of composition of a set of variations for piano solo on the song "The Last Rose of Summer." I'm not even sure that Beethoven wrote such a set. Anyone know anything about it? It doesn't appear in the catalogue of works at the Beethoven Refernce site. Thanks

atsinaip,
A quick Google revealed the following CD with the piece 'Last Rose of Summer' {Irish}. This really beautiful piece comes under - 6 National Airs with variations. 0p.105. Date of composition, 1818/19.
The CD is, Beethoven for Babies: Brain training for little ones.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...03365?v=glance

Vestiges of the 'Hammerklavier' Sonata appear in the coda of ' Sad and Luckless' (now known by its later title, 'The Last Rose of Summer').


SAD AND LUCKLESS WAS THE SEASON
(Catalogued under Wo0,153, 20 Irish Lieder for vioce, pianoforte, violin, and violincello) no.6 , published 1814/6 ?

Lyrics

Sad and Luckless.

Sad and luckless was the season,
When to court fair Ellen flew,
Flew from Love, and Peace, and Reason,
Worlds to see of promise new.
Back she comes - each grace is finer,
Ev'ry charm that crowds adore,
All the form divine, diviner -
But the heart is there no more.

Oh! 'tis gone, the temper even,
Careless nature, artless ease!
All that makes retirement heaven -
Pleasing, without toil to please,
Hope no more, sweet lark, to cheer her,
Vain to her these echoing skies,
Bloom non more, ye violets, near her,
Yours are charms she would not prize.

Ellen! Go where crowds admire thee,
Charioits rattle, torches blaze;
Here our dull content would tire thee,
Worthless be our village praise.
Go! Yet Oh, that thought's soft season
Ellen's heart might but restore!
Hard the task - what'er the reason -
Hard the task to love no more.




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~ Courage, so it be righteous, will gain all things ~



[This message has been edited by Amalie (edited 03-06-2005).]

[Amalie]

Another CD you may be interested in is -

Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies, which includes 'The Last Rose of Summer', again you can listen to an audio sample of this song. http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/66774.asp


The Lyrics are:


THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER

'Tis the last rose of Summer left blooming all alone.
All her lovely companions are faded and gone.
No flower of her kindred, no rose bud is neigh,
to reflect back her blushes and give sigh for sigh.


I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! to pine for the stem,
Since the lovely are sleeping, go sleep though with them.
Thus kindly I scatter they leaves o'er the bed,
Where my mates of the garden lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow, when friendships decay,
And from love's shining circle the gems drop away.
When true hearts lie wither'd and fond ones are flown.
Oh! who would inhabit this bleak world alone!



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~ Courage, so it be righteous, will gain all things ~