Light, my light (John Alden Carpenter)

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• CPDL #17512:

Contributor: David Newman (submitted 2008-07-11).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 380 kbytes   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Cross posting by Art Song Central.

General Information

Title: Light, My Light
Composer: John Alden Carpenter
Lyricist: Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Solo Soprano
Genre: Secular, Aria

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

Published: No title, published 1914, from Gitanjali (Song Offerings), No. 6. - Lyrics from Gitanjali, published 1913.

Description:

External websites:

• Entry at the "Lied and Art Song Text" site for "Light, My Light"
• Entry at the "Art Song Central" site
• Art Song Central's page on "Gitanjali"
• Details of Rabindranath Tagore's Song Cycle: 'Gitanjali' or `song offerings'
• Wikipedia entry for 'Gitanjali'

Original text and translations

English text

Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light,

heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at

the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords

of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter

passes over the earth.

The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and

jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.

The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling,

and it scatters gems in profusion.

Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness

without measure. The heaven’s river has drowned its banks

and the flood of joy is abroad.