1972

Willow Bend and Weep

Composed by Dorothy Rudd Moore

From the Dark Tower Song Collection

"Willow Bend and Weep" is the third song in Dorothy Rudd Moore's song cycle From the Dark Tower for mezzo-soprano, cello and piano.

Audio

“Willow Bend and Weep” (from “From the Dark Tower”)
Daveda Karanas, mezzo-soprano; Michael Ippolito, piano; Karla Hamelin, cello2:05

Dorothy Rudd Moore

Composer

Herbert Clark Johnson

Poet(s)/Writer(s)

2022

Date

University of California, Irvine, Winifred Smith Hall

Location

This recording was part of a 10am concert ("In Memorium – Dorothy Rudd Moore 1940–2022") on Saturday, October 15, 2022 during the 25th Anniversary African American Art Song Alliance Conference. The concert venue was Winifred Smith Hall at the University of California, Irvine.

Text

Bend willow, willow bend down deep
And dip your branches into cold
Brown river water and then weep

Weep, willow, for my land-sick soul
Let river tears wash out land grief

Let river water wash wounds made
By too much toil without relief
While you, willow, stood m the shade

Willow, you owe this much to me

I spared the ax for many years

Your roots are in my land, now, tree
Bend down and weep I have not tears

Video