"Written especially for Lauryna Sableviciute, The Book of Stars and Sorrows is a celebration of the folk music, mythology and art of Lithuania. Each of the movements is inspired by a traditional song or sutartine and a wood carving (dating from the 15th-20th century) that illustrates an aspect of the text. As the title suggests, I have chosen texts that reflect two recurrent themes in Lithuanian culture - nature and mourning, the two frequently linked together in ritual songs and legends" - Sadie Harrison.
I. Užteka saulužė aplinkui dangužį
The sun is rising. Pass, sun, round the sky and count if all the stars are present. One star is absent, the brightest one, which rose the earliest and set the latest.
II. Užteka teka sviesi saulele
The bright sun is rising and finds a morning star. A pixie wants to make beer and to invite all the stars except the sun. Hush, pixie, I will not rise for nine mornings and I will not shake down the dew for the tenth.
III. Oi, an kalno, an aukštojo
On the top of the mountain a grey stone is lying. On that grey stone father and mother are sitting and the son is preparing for war. Oh son, oh child What are you doing? What are you doing? I will feel desolate for the world and I will cover myself in the mist. Oh son, oh child, if you go to the city of Vilnius you'll be the first to stumble. Father, Motku, you will cry! The second trumpet will be sounded, the whole world will be moved and you will wake up in the city of Vilnius.
IV. Eina saulelė aplinkui dangų
The sun is circling the sky to wake up the moon. Wake up bright moon! I woke already a long time ago and lit up the whole world!
V. Visi bajorai į vainą joja
...We are three sisters like dolls, Our little brother is like a clover. One sister dressed her brother, the second nurse saddled the horse, and the third, the smallest of all, raised the gate and accompanied him. — Accompany me, sister, until the journey ends, I will go to defend my regiment. I will defend it, but I will not return, I will be far from my family. — Let's go, sisters, on a high mountain, waiting for our brother on a high mountain... Where his head fell, the rose bloomed, Where there is a drop of blood, there is a clover. Where the boy is, there is a tree... - Oh, it hurts, my heart hurts, That I will not see my brother again.
VI. Ai pūdyme pūdyme
A green oak stands in a lea, our father lies under this hundred-branched oak. We two orphaned sons will go to visit our father.
VII. Pamojuokime saulelei
Let’s wave to the sun, here she is hurrying home. Fairy bells are ringing, inviting a dream to visit. Little child, little one, close your eyes quickly, Soon the little stars will lead you to a dream. There, strange people shepherd the sleeping sheep. Ring the bells, Invite the stars to dance. The smiling face of the moon is accompanied by a boat of laughter... Go to sleep, little one, cover yourself with a dream.
VIII. Dijūto kolnali
From the mountain a greeting to the universe (a sutartinė for many occasions) and
Laides saulale
The sun asked how much work was done during this day. One hundred kapas of white rye and one and a half kapas of yellow wheat… (a rye harvesting song)