Vittorio Giannini was a prolific Italian-American composer whose creative work embraced all standard musical genres; he is best known for his operatic and vocal music, and for his pieces for concert band. Nineteen of Giannini’s 36 published songs, including “Tell Me, Oh Blue, Blue Sky,” are set to texts by his friend Karl West Flaster.
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The audio recording, provided in the audio player to the right, features Thomas Hampson, baritone, and Craig Rutenberg, piano. This song was recorded for Instant Encore as part of American Public Media's Performance Today series, presented by Classical Minnesota Public Radio. To listen, please click on the track name itself. You can download a recording of this entire recital for free through the Instant Encore website with the download code: THSOA2009.

Text

Tell Me, Oh Blue, Blue Sky
by Karl West Flaster

Summer has flown, the leaves are falling,
I hear a voice, Your voice, calling,
I see a face, Your face, pleading,
I feel a heart, Your heart, bleeding.

Tell me, Oh blue, blue sky,
Why did we part?
Tell me, Oh whispering wind, breathe on my heart.
Breathe on my lonely heart, that too has bled.
Tell what is left in life, since love has fled, since love has fled?
[Oh, no!]

Tell me, Tell me, Tell me, Oh blue, blue sky,
Tell me, Oh blue, blue sky!