Text of song: written by the composer in Venice in 1967

Souvenir de Venise

Water babbling bluely beneath bridges

Brings visions of Venice to me.

Venerable she stands, yet vulnerable

To the very springs of her existence.

Circumstance caused colour to descend

And display itself like a rich diadem

Upon the dome of the City,

Which, fully-fledged, emeralded, sapphired, rubied,

Caused no corner envy. 

And learning and grace grew here:

Spreading themselves spiccato-like in spray

From canvas to cathedral

Through crypt and choir and nave

Until turret too was plumed.

And music here was heard: voluminous,

Virile, vast and daunting

Did the trumpets thrill and urge

The soul on upward, bigger than tears.

Small wonder that Turner tinted truly

And Ruskin wrote in colour, glow and glory

Of the City

Whose waters lap lightly beneath bridges narrow,

Now in summer crowded cruelly.

Harlotry came.

Saved from the sin of industry

The City of Circumstance stood,

Until tourist money mingled with museum

Seeking reduction to yet another crow. 

Harlotry came and didn’t go.

But I shall stand on this bridge watching,

Waiting until a vision of the City floats

Upon the rippled surface of the lagoon,

And the centuries will fold back, 

And my ear will fill with Gabrieli, 

And my heart will sing for you.

-------------------------------------