Thematic and tonal imagery in Brahms's Ballade in D Minor, Op. 10, No. 1 ("Edward").(Critical Essay)

 
EDWARD (1) 
 
   1 "Why dois your brand sae drap wi' 
      bluid, 
        Edward, Edward? 
 
   Why dois your brand sae drap wi' bluid? 
      And why sae sad gang yee, O?" 
   "O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, 
        Mither, mither, 
   O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, 
      And I had nae mair bot hee, O." 
 
   2 "Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, 
        Edward, Edward, 
   Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, 
      My deir son I tell thee, O." 
   "O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, 
        Mither, mither, 
   O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, 
      That erst was sae fair and frie, O." 
 
   3 "Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat 
      mair, 
        Edward, Edward, 
 
   Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat 
      mair, 
      Sum other dule ye drie, O." 
   "O, I hae killed my fadir deir, 
        Mither, mither, 
   O, I hae killed my fadir deir, 
      Alas, and wae is mee, O!" 
 
   4 "And whatten penance wul ye drie for 
      that, 
        Edward, Edward? 
   And whatten penance wul ye drie for 
      that? 
      My deir son, now tell me, O." 
   "Ile set my felt in yonder boat, 
        Mither, mither, 
   Ile set my feit in yonder boat 
      And lie fare ovir the sea, O." 
 
   5 "And what wul ye doe wi' your towirs 
      and your ha', 
        Edward, Edward, 
   And what wul ye doe wi' your towirs 
      and your ha.' 
      That were sae fair to see, O?" 
   "Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa', 
        Mither, mither, 
   Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa', 
      For here nevir mair maun I bee, O." 
 
   6 "And what wul ye leive to your bairns 
      and your wife, 
        Edward, Edward? 
   And what wul ye leive to your bairns 
      and your wife, 
      When ye gang ovir the sea, O?" 
   "The warldis room, late them beg thrae 
      life, 
        Mither, mither, 
   The warldis room, late them beg thrae 
      life, 
      For thame nevir mair wul I see, O." 
 
   7 "And what wul ye leive to your ain 
      mither deir, 
        Edward, Edward? 
   And what wul ye leive to your ain mither 
      deir? 
      My deir son, now tell me, O." 
   "The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, 
        Mither, mither, 
   The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, 
      Sic counseils ye gave to me, O." 
 
   EDWARD (2) 
 
   1 "Why does your sword so drip with 
      blood, 
        Edward, Edward? 
   Why does your sword so drip with 
      blood? 
      And why are ye so sad, O?" 
   "O, I have killed my hawk so good, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   O, I have killed my hawk so good, 
      And I had no other but he, O." 
 
   2 "Your hawk's blood was never so red, 
        Edward, Edward, 
   Your hawk's blood was never so red, 
      My dear son, I tell thee, O." 
   "O, I have killed my red-roan steed, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   O, I have killed my red-roan steed, 
      That was so fair and free, O." 
 
   3 "Your steed was old, and ye've got 
      more, 
        Edward, Edward, 
   Your steed was old, and ye've got 
      more, 
      Some other grief ye bear, O." 
   "O, I have killed my father dear, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   O, I have killed my father dear, 
      Alas, and woe is me, O." 
 
   4 "And what penance will ye pay for 
      that, 
        Edward, Edward? 
   And what penance will ye pay for that? 
      My dear son now tell me, O." 
   "I'll set my feet in yonder boat, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   I'll set my feet in yonder boat, 
      And I'll sail o'er the sea, O." 
 
5 "And what will ye do with your towers 
      and your hall, 
        Edward, Edward, 
   And what will ye do with your towers 
      and your hall, 
      That were so fair to see, O?" 
   "I'11 let them stand till they fall down, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   I'll let them stand till they fall down, 
      For here never more I'll be, O" 
 
   6 "And what will ye leave to your 
      children and your wife, 
        Edward, Edward? 
   And what will ye leave to your children 
      and your wife? 
      When ye sail o'er the sea, O?" 
   "The whole wide world, let them beg 
      through life, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   The whole wide world, let them beg 
      through life, 
      For them never more will I see, O." 
 
7 "And what will ye leave to your own 
      Mother dear, 
        Edward, Edward? 
      And what will ye leave to your own 
      Mother dear? 
      My dear son, now tell me, 0." 
   "The curse of Hell from me shall ye bear, 
        Mother, Mother, 
   The curse of Hell from me shall ye bear, 
      Since counsel ye gave to me, O." 

One rarely associates the term "programmatic music" with the compositions of ...