New Love Must Rise: Selected songs of Margaret Ruthven Lang (1867-1972)
Volume II

“Personally, I see in Miss Lang’s compositions such a depth of psychology that I place the general quality of her work above that of any other woman composer…” —Rupert Hughes in Contemporary American Composers, 1900

With “New Love Must Rise,” Delos’ second volume of delightful art songs by Margaret Ruthven Lang, we seek to re-establish this worthy Boston composer’s long-forgotten reputation as the most significant American woman composer of her day. Historically important as the first American female composer to have her music performed by leading American orchestras, she never published (and later destroyed) those works, and stopped composing altogether in mid-life. But her published works – primarily her body of 130 art songs – reveal the rare skill and striking appeal of her art.

Her songs’ exceptional melodic invention and beauty, coupled with imaginative and sophisticated piano support, are superbly realized by tenor Donald George and pianist Lucy Mauro – who are on an ardent personal mission to revive interest in her music and restore Lang to her rightful niche in the Pantheon of American musical history. With these two volumes of songs now on CD (future recordings of her choral and piano compositions are planned), the musical public can begin to hear for themselves why Lang’s wonderful music is ripe for rediscovery.

The Garden:
On an April Apple Bough ▪ Before My Lady’s Window, Op.19, No.4 ▪ In the Greenwood, Op.19, No.2 ▪ In a Garden ▪ The Bird, Op.40, No.3 ▪ Nameless Pain ▪ Northward, Op.37, No.6 ▪ My Garden, Op.28, No.3 ▪ I Knew the Flowers Had Dreamed of You

The Twilight:
Song in the Songless, Op.38, No.4 ▪ In the Twilight ▪ An Even Psalm, Op.46, No.1 ▪ The Harbor of Dreams, Op.7, No.3 ▪ In the Night, Op.39, No.3

Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures, opp. 42 & 43:
There was an Old Man of Dumbree ▪ There was a Young Lady in Blue ▪ There was a Lady of Parma ▪ There was an Old Person of Jodd ▪ There was a Young Lady in white ▪ There was a Young Lady whose eyes

Tomorrow and a Lullaby:
To-Morrow, Op.39, No.7 ▪ Lydia, Op.32, No.2 ▪ A Thought, Op.37, No.1 ▪ Lied der Nebenbuhlerin ▪ Lament, Op.6, No.3 ▪ An Irish Mother’s Lullaby, Op.34 ▪ Night, Op.7, No.1

Download the Volume 1 Data Disc Materials:

Songs Ordered By Difficulty
Texts for Volumes 1 & 2

Download the Volume 2 Scores:

The Garden:
On an April Apple Bough ▪ Before My Lady’s Window, Op.19, No.4 ▪ In the Greenwood, Op.19, No.2 ▪ In a Garden ▪ The Bird, Op.40, No.3 ▪ Nameless Pain ▪ Northward, Op.37, No.6 ▪ My Garden, Op.28, No.3 ▪ I Knew the Flowers Had Dreamed of You

The Twilight:
Song in the Songless, Op.38, No.4 ▪ In the Twilight ▪ An Even Psalm, Op.46, No.1 ▪ The Harbor of Dreams, Op.7, No.3 ▪ In the Night, Op.39, No.3

Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures, opp. 42 & 43:
There was an Old Man of Dumbree ▪ There was a Young Lady in Blue ▪ There was a Lady of Parma ▪ There was an Old Person of Jodd ▪ There was a Young Lady in white ▪ There was a Young Lady whose eyes

Tomorrow and a Lullaby:
To-Morrow, Op.39, No.7 ▪ Lydia, Op.32, No.2 ▪ A Thought, Op.37, No.1 ▪ Lied der Nebenbuhlerin ▪ Lament, Op.6, No.3 ▪ An Irish Mother’s Lullaby, Op.34 ▪ Night, Op.7, No.1

Download Selected Manuscripts: