This edition was prepared by James Crawford — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Conscious
Staff Notation • Secular, Art songs
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Conscious by James Crawford — Lyrics
His fingers wake, and flutter; up the bed.
His eyes come open with a pull of will,
Helped by the yellow mayflowers by his head.
The blindcord drawls across the windowsill...
What a smooth floor the ward has! What a rug!
Who is that talking somewhere out of sight?
Three flies are creeping round the shiny jug...
'Nurse! Doctor!''Yes, all right, all right.'
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About Conscious
This art song for solo soprano and tenor offers a poignant exploration of a soldier's fading consciousness. The text vividly contrasts the mundane details of a hospital ward with the disorienting and fragmented memories of wartime. As the soldier drifts between waking and sleeping, the sounds and sights of conflict intrude upon his fragile reality. The music would need to capture the shift from the gentle awakening to the overwhelming sensory experiences of battle and the ultimate surrender to oblivion. Its dramatic arc and evocative text make it suitable for performance in a recital setting, offering a profound reflection on mortality and the human experience in extreme circumstances.
