Ojalá

In 1889, Margaret Ruthven Lang’s song "Ojalá" was performed in Paris at the July 12th concert during the Paris World's Fair Exposition. Edward MacDowell (American’s most famous composer of the time) championed Lang and sent her the following telegram:

"Dear Miss Lang, I showed your songs to van der Stucken [another well know composer of the day] who says he will put 'Ojalá' on his programme. I expect to accompany it myself and hope to bring down the house. Concert is day after tomorrow. All Well. Kind regards to all. "

"Ojalá" (which is Arabic/Spanish for "God Willing") was also part of the Inauguration Concert of American Composers at the Lincoln Concert Hall in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 1890. The poet of this song is the famous George Eliot, a pen name of Mary Anne (Mary Ann, Marian) Evans (1819 –1880).

--Donald George and Lucy Mauro

Date: 1889Composer: Margaret Ruthven LangText: George Eliot

Print vitals & song text

Text

Ojalá
by George Eliot

Spring comes hither,
Buds the rose;
Roses wither,
Sweet spring goes.
Ojalá, would she carry me!

Summer soars,
White-winged day
White light pours,
Flies away.
Ojalá, would he carry me!

Soft winds blow,
Westward born,
Onward go
Toward the morn.
Ojalá, would they carry me!

Sweet birds sing
O’er the graves,
Then take wing
O’er the waves.
Ojalá, would they carry me!

Related Information

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    Sheet Music

    5 Songs

    Composer(s): Margaret Ruthven Lang

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    5 Songs

    Composer(s): Margaret Ruthven Lang

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    5 Songs

    Composer(s): Margaret Ruthven Lang

    Buy via Classical Vocal Reprints

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