presenting....


Chansons Innocentes



Chansons Innocentes
An EP by Christopher Johnson-Roberson.

This set of recordings is not meant as a complete album, but as a "catalogue" or snapshot of the state of my art at the present time. All these songs are works I composed and performed myself; the piano, cello, and voice parts were recorded separately and edited them together. The title, "Chansons Innocentes," is taken from a collection of E.E. Cummings, a favorite poet of mine; it means, literally, "Innocent Songs" but its meaning in this context is wholly open to interpretation.

Note that despite the darkness inherent in some of these songs, this record is by no means intended to depress. I wished to create this music as a result of many things; partly to give voice to my thoughts, partly to indulge a sense of artistic curiosity, and partly to explore various musical textures on my instruments. If any of these songs are pleasing or in some way meaningful to you, my esteemed listener, I will feel most honored; if, further, I have successfully conveyed the emotions I desired to express, all my goals have been achieved.

A disclaimer: The words for the vocal parts are written in English, Spanish, or French; since only English is my first language, there may be errors of grammar or pronunciation in my use in the other two. I apologize if this is the case; I have no desire to abuse these two beautiful tongues.

Additionally. as I was responsible for all aspects of production, these recordings are somewhat uneven in audio quality: poor mixing and slight background noise may be present on some tracks. My apologies for this; if I had had the time, resources, and inclination, it might have been possible to use a recording studio, but I felt that the somewhat unfinished nature of the songs did not warrant it in any case.

This album is dedicated to Katherine Elizabeth Evans, who has been a font of encouragement and inspiration over the years. I extend equal thanks to my excellent friends Woodrow Brown, Clare Foran, and Jack Kavanaugh, all of whom have long been my greatest supporters, and to my piano and cello teachers, Emily Hall and Marcella Branagan, without whom I would never have been able to accomplish this. Love and thanks to all of my friends and family.

Copyright © 2005.
Track listing:

1. For Katherine (0:36)

Morning
The time is precisely 5:32 a.m.
Silently, you arise
In the stillness of 16 twilights past
Seeking for that which cannot be found, but by one way
In the golden tresses of the dawn
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2. The One (2:08)

If you can, find strength in this

You are the one, the one they're thinking of
You are the one that set us free
The one

We are the ones, the ones they're thinking of
We are the ones that set us free

Come on down if you are willing
Come on down if you believe

If you can, find strength in this

You are the one, the one they're thinking of
You are the one that set us free
The one

Come on down if you are willing
Come on down if you are free
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3. Discovery (1:53)

[instrumental]
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4. Ausencia [tr.: Absence] (2:33)

Vengo para verte
sólo tus fotos se quedan
Aquí están
Te devuelvo todas

Un poema te escribo
Favor de destruirlo
No tenía sentido
en sus líneas infantiles

Me olvides
Te olvido
Nos extrañremos
Así es ausencia

Un gran silencio
Las palabras claves
no se dicen
¿Qué vamos a hacer?

Me olvides
Te olvido
Nos extrañaremos
Así es ausencia

Me olvides
Te olvido
Nos extrañaremos
Así es ausencia

(Eso es todo. A lo lejos alguien canta. A lo lejos. A lo lejos.)
--
I come to see you
only your photos remain
Here they are
I'm giving you back all of them

I wrote you a poem
Please get rid of it
It had no sense
in its childish lines

I forget you
You forget me
We will miss each other
Thus is absence

A great silence
The key words
were not said
What are we going to do?

I forget you
You forget me
We will miss each other
Thus is absence

I forget you
You forget me
We will miss each other
Thus is absence

(That is all. In the distance, someone sings. In the distance.)
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5. Elegy (2:57)

[instrumental] Listen
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6. You (0:54)

[instrumental] Listen
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7. Un Lettre (1:20)

Je t'écris
De choses bien merveilleuses
N'oubliez pas
Cette idée dont j'ai dit

Ceci n'est pas un lettre
Voici l'existence
Preservé eternellement
Pour tous les enfants

Ces chansons sont courtes
À cause de mon coeur
Ces chansons sont courtes
À cause de mon coeur

Ceci n'est pas un lettre
Ceci est le monde
Preservé eternellement
Pour tous les enfants
(M'aidez, m'aidez)

Enfin, c'est la fin
Pardonez-moi
Enfin, c'est la fin
--
I am writing to you
Of such marvelous things
Don't forget
The idea of which I said:

This is not a letter
Here is my being
Preserved eternally
For the children

These songs are short
Because of my heart
These songs are short
Because of my heart

This is not a letter
This is the world
Preserved eternally
For the children
(Help me)

Finally, it's the end
Pardon me
Finally, it's the end
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8. this is the garden (1:11)

[instrumental, inspired by the E.E. Cummings poem of the same title shown below] 
this is the garden:colours come and go,
frail azures fluttering from night's outer wing
strong silent greens silently lingering,
absolute lights like baths of golden snow.
This is the garden:pursed lips do blow
upon cool flutes within wide glooms,and sing
(of harps celestial to the quivering string)
invisible faces hauntingly and slow.

This is the garden.   Time shall surely reap
and on Death's blade lie many a flower curled,
in other lands where other songs be sung;
yet stand They here enraptured,as among
the slow deep trees perpetual of sleep
some silver-fingered fountain steals the world.
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9. Waiting (1:52)

[instrumental] Listen
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10. Weary (1:22)

I had walked a thousand leagues
And I would travel even more
To see my darling down in the valley
At the end of my long journey
She brought me food and wine,
Sweet wine

Said that I was

Weary, weary,
Lord, but I am weary
Weary, weary
Oh lord, but I am weary

Took me to a chamber, saying
"Rest your aching feet"
And in the day, when you are able
We two will the morning greet

Lay down your burdens
And sleep a dreaming sleep till dawn,
when we awake
and let our revels keep

Then she sang to me

Weary, weary,
We mustn't be so weary
Weary, weary
Oh, let your heart sing freely
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11. Glade (0:58)

There is a glade
Beyond the eastern mount
And in the forest there
The fairy queen was my love true

She said,
"But ah, what fools these mortals be
Believing in epiphanies!"
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12. Coming Home (1:08)

[instrumental] Listen
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13. Unready (1:54)

Listen hollow-like
I know I'm unready
Unsteady on my feet

Won't you hear me crying?

How pitiful
How dull
How alone is this
How inward

It's a rainy day for everyone
But don't be afraid
I'll cover you
I'll shelter you
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14. Terminus (1:16)

There is a point at which horizon blends with lines
A faceless man stands there
In mist, in void
There are a thousand voices saying:

Finish me
Finish me
It's over
Completely

Complete

There's nothing, there, that I would rather do
But stop to see the dawns that pass in their arrays
Of fire, of sight
Enough of cold and night

I can no more
So tired
So tired
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E-mail: vokuro@adelphia.net
Last Modified: 2005/11/11