Belmont University School of Music
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026 7:30 P.M.
MCAFEE CONCERT HALL
Belmont University School of Music
Faculty Concert Series presents Mark Volker, composition
Guigemar: A Song Etched in Time text renderings by Mark Volker based on “Guigemar” by Marie de France (fl. 1160-1215) interpretative consulations provided by Suzanne Edwards
PART 1
I. In the River of Time
II. Guigemar
III. The Lady’s Tale
IV. Sighting the Deer
V. The Hunt
VI. The Deer’s Curse
VII. The Enchanted Ship
PART 2
VII. From the Sea
IX. The Watcher
X. All That I Am
XI. Banishment
XII. Escape
XIII. Reunion
XIV. Epilogue
brief pause
Sabrina Laney Warren*, soprano
John McMurtery*, flute
Craig Hultgren*, cello Alessandra Volpi*, piano
Mark Volker**, guitars, electronics, and tenor
*Special Guest **School of Music Faculty
I – In the River of Time (Marie)
Guigemar
Text renderings by Mark Volker
Part 1
The wheel of time turns in a river that brings us tales from distant lands.
Some tales are wise, and yet their wisdom requires a master poet's hands.
When poets share enlightened visions they pierce a veil of sacred pow'r.
When deftly made from artful seedlings, a worthy tale's a potent flow'r.
All whom god has granted vision must follow through their solemn vow.
Share what they have, dispense their wisdom, choose not to keep their silence now.
Hear me now, my lords and ladies, I speak to you from long ago.
A darker day, though unfamiliar a distant mirror of your own.
As those of old, I weave my stories inviting probing, close regard.
My fable’s core, abstractly woven, lies in the pattern of its art. Remember your interpretation says more of you than what's proclaimed.
Our days are short, our world uncertain, I will not squander what I have.
Allow me time to tell this story. It is my bold gift unto you.
II – Guigemar’s Tale (Marie, Guigemar)
The early morning chorus sounding, the birds announce the day.
The halo of the sunlight's glory now lights our dreamland age. The golden cavaliers return from adventures far away. Most fought to be more worthy than their worthiness could gain.
From the leading steed a traceless face stares eclipsing all behind.
A weary smile conceals opaquely a softly restless mind. A noble knight called Guigemar, he left to claim his name. Though he learned distain for war's cru'el hand, he loved the hunter's game.
All that I desire is the hunt.
It gets me in the air and takes away my cares.
All that I desire is the fire. It lifts me in the air.
All that he desires is the fire.
It's the only way to get me through the day.
It’s the only way to get him through the day.
All that I desire is the hunt.
It's the only way to ease my to ease my pain!
It’s the only way to ease his pain!
I am Marie, a humble poet, though some bring slander to my name.
I stand here strong, through countless ages, my words survive as few can claim.
In them forever I remain.
I place in verse beguiling stories to keep their flames of truth alive.
In simple tales lie dark enigmas, born in a dim and distant time.
I shaped them late on lonely nights.
To cast away my grief and pain I set to share the tales I'd heard.
Put forth to you for contemplation a tale of hope entwined with pain.
Now, we begin.
He had found not one woman that he loved within the land. The jealous snipes spit poison whispers "He's only half a man."
Despite all judgement of his customs his fame still knew no bounds.
A master of the sword and arrow the hunt blocked out the painful sounds.
Deep within his noble heart these bitter conflicts took their toll.
Uncertainty to choose a path brought anguish to his soul. “Who is the one that I should be?”
All my cares vanish on the hunt. It leaves me to my trade and all my worries fade. How long can he hunt away the day?
All that I desire is the hunt. The days just slip away. It's the only way to keep my fears at bay.
It’s the only way to keep his fears at bay.
All that I desire is the hunt.
It's the only way to stop the to stop the pain! It’s the only way to stop his pain
III – The Lady’s Tale (Marie)
Just past the sea lay a foreign land perched on an emerald shore.
Swept there by fate, a lady marked by fortune’s hand, Held in a fortress, ensconced by the sea, and sealed in cold, stern, marble walls.
IV – Sighting the Deer (flute solo)
V – The Hunt (Marie, Guigemar)
A beast twice spelled wrong. A man twice maligned. A hunt links their fates bound as one.
Hard-bit arcing bow, unleash your fiery flow, slice my mark into the air. Lead me to my quarry’s lair.
Suck the breath of time, rupture fate’s desire, guide my aim unto the prize.
I think I see it now!
The wind blows the name of this lithe, antlered doe. A bright silver echo of of his own fractured soul.
Paintings of Venus adorn her walls, chosen only to quell desire.
Cruelly the god throws books of love in the flames of consuming fire.
Gardens of green her one release from her ordeal. Soft, sweet fragrance blooms in gardens of roses whose thorns could bring sweet release.
VI – The Deer’s Curse (The Deer) Alas, my sorrow I am slain.
You've hit your mark now hear you fate: You've struck yourself as sure as me. You've lost the grace you knew before, your old life slips away.
The ghosts of his fears made real, woven from mystic thread. Now nature and time align. May passion and truth be bled.
Phantom silver deer, unbound by mortal fear, neither stag nor maiden doe, taunts me with a mirror’s glow.
Grant me my release to catch this magic beast, shreve my spirit of its pain.
I think I see it now!
A beast twice spelled wrong. A man twice despised. A hunt links their fates bound as one.
Leave no shield upon my prey. Lift me on this fateful day.
Break the sacred seal, unleash the shaft of steal, Stamp my mark upon the world!
You'll seek in vain for healing's peace. You'll find no balm or sweet re-lease. Your wound ex-posed, the pain won't cease Until consuming love shall take its place.
Let this curse be your fate. Be gone now and leave me be. Let me die in peace.
VII – The Enchanted Ship (Marie)
Fire seared his veins. In pain Guigemar wandered long, Carried by his stallion seeking mercy and to atone to for his wrong.
Until the sea revealed a wondrous ship upon a harbor pier, Strange and still, as though the world paused to hear. Silently it waited as though it had always knew that he was there.
Golden, siken sails whispered secrets to the evening air, jewel encrusted torches shone in silent prayer. Patiently awaiting precious cargo that the strange mystic winds of fate bring.
A ship not built, but born of some magic dream, Patiently awaiting what the winds of fate bring.
Pressing through pain, he found no mortal soul in sight, but there aboard lay a magic bed bathed in otherworldly light. Patiently awaiting precious cargo that the strange mystic winds of fate bring. Always it had known he would come and it would carry him upon its wings.
VIII – From the Sea (The Lady, Guigemar)
Who lies here?
Here I lie in pain. What pain plagues him?
Has this ship come through a storm?
Where has this ship come through? Is this that looks on me alive?
Who is this that looks on me?
This that stirs the mystic cords of my soul scares me so. Who is this that stirs the mystic cords of my soul? How does my path divide upon this day?
I lay in shame slowly dying, though I’m exiled from no fight. My raw would of vile affliction is a rift twixt self and sight. In blinding light of sacred laws I smote a sacred wight whose very spirit was my own.
Wary stranger of the wandering seas, I’ll counsel as I may. I will tend your wounds and set you on your way. Softly soothing balm will ease your pain. Shelter here and gently feel the rain. Praise the fates. I will cleanse the poison from your veins. A debt of grace.
Sadly, have I wed a lord who binds me here, my voice ignored. Jealously he seals me in these lands. Righteous laws bend cruelly in his hands. Thrones he’s built on golden mirrored gowns. Gowns of gold drape falsely gilded crowns. Crowns himself with grief and calls it might. Courtiers dance while angels mourn his blight.
Here we must hide from his gaze. These halls will ease your sacred pain. Your grace outshines the lamps of eve. My hands shall lead you where soft silks await you rest. Cleansing water cooly flow till wound and soul are whole.
IX – The Watcher (The Lady, The Watcher)
Through the day and deep into the night, hidden shadows of he that haunts me.
Footsteps, dark, unseen, and near, echo.
These are the signs of the one who watches me, hoarding all my private breaths unto my lord. May hell take him and cast him to the flames.
I am his obedient servant. For he is an instrument of God. She’d do well to appreciate her lord. There is no one who respects women more.
And yet I find myself unfree in my own home I must shroud my secret aim while I rise, a living flame.
X – All that I Am (The Lady, Guigemar)
Deep in my mind locked away in my fears, my secret dreams lie concealed.
All that I am, all I could be, freed now by thee.
There is a fire marking scars in my veins, wounds that invisibly burn.
Kindled in nature, a long living spell, one I must serve and obey. For this I pray.
All that I am, all I could be, I yield now to thee.
Do not be hasty in this gleam. Of no light matter do we speak. Here we walk in danger’s velvet dream.
Dream of what our hears may come to know.
Know a watchful gaze is near.
Gaze into my soul.
My lord’s dark priest prowls each silent eve.
Even if discovered, we will know the light of love before we die.
Now I bind a thread unbroken, none but I may loose this sacred cord.
By blood and sea I sing this vow. I bind you with this mortal clasp.
Forever shall it hold me fast ‘til you return and free me from my bonds!
XI – Banishment (The Lord, The Lady)
I built this keep, I built these walls, So she would obey my laws.
Bow before the majesty of her lord.
All I expect from her is loyalty.
You made me a slave and took my soul. You have wronged. You’ve betrayed. You’ve refused to keep you solitude.
I’ll exact my retribution.
Nasty woman. Don’t you know who I am.
I rule this land, I’ll rule the world. I’ve always won and I always will.
No one builds a wall as good as I. I’ll build up this wall into the sky.
Bow down, submit to my might. He’ll die, your doors close tight.
Your wrath spews in vain. Death bows down before Guigemar’s name.
His noble blood is sealed from your blade.
Then I’ll commit his to the sea and you’ll remain alone.
Fate holds dark days and cursed nights. Your sins demand that price.
A monument to failure and greed.
A child of the same spirit you fear.
As you divide us our souls stand as one. You reach for pain while we reach for truth.
Brought to the ship, sent to the waves, Guigemar set sail across the sea from which he came. Long did he weep, and great was his pain, though his wound was healed.
Still his heart remained aflame.
He prayed to the wind. The seas replied.
You’ll be home.
You’ll live your life unbound yet mourn the lost forever beyond the sea.
XII – Escape (The Lady)
As a young ardent maiden, I felt passion for the world, The whispered silver secrets on the wind. I knew I’d be expected to submit to fates demands, Not leashed to a dog who barks for praise. I’d hoped to sing the songs that were my own.
Show me all you’ve made in all your super-secret ways, turning all you touch to shining scum. Building up by tearing down, wasting others’ gold, Your skin so bronze, your teeth so white, your hair like brown honey.
The witless fool is damned, complacent as he crows hollow glory.
The gates left open wide, the warden sleeps. The priest has left his post, so I will fly.
Bathed in spellbound moonlight sits the ship that drew my love across the sea.
Though the sea may claim me I will board the haunted vessel hoping only for release from my foolish lord.
XIII – Reunion (Marie, The Lady)
The land awoke, the dew-light song of the finch in the air.
The tender hawthorn buds call softly: “It’s Spring.” Meriadus called the lords unto a gathering for a cause, And when the list was called the lady came to declare here strength and seek the name she’d sailed for.
Now I have power ignited deep in my soul. I will know the world’s secret ways.
I will never be enslaved again, for my mind is mine and my soul will join with one who knows me.
I hear his voice in this wicked world singing through the tuneless noise.
His scent drifts clean through the air to me and triggers living memories, Through the vain mass, his face appears and consumes my spirit with tender grace.
I will never be made a slave to man. We will find our own rightful way.
Kings will rise and laws be made, the world will go its way. But we’ll move through together, souls apart, yet joined forever!
This love unbound my heart, the wisdom freed my mind. Now as we once vowed to each other in the moon’s silver light, release the timeless bindings that you once fastened, and I will do the same for you.
Standing here before me, the blazing mirror of my soul, the one who knew me as I am, and called my heart to sing again.
I am here. I fled man's cage, aboard the ship that you once sailed to me.
Here I was taken, here I have waited. Now we are free to fulfill our vow.
XIV – Epilogue (Marie)
Soft haze drifts through the stone halls while each holds the other’s embrace.
Though some deny them, none can break them. The light of one illumines the other. In silent strength they stand together, bound in truth and love forever.
To end this tale that I have spoken I speak my name before it fades.
I am Marie, my soul unbroken. I now commend my work to time from whence I came.
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Music and Discourse: Channing Shippen
“Living In-Between: Music Therapy as Liminal Space for People Experiencing Homelessness” Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Hitch 130
Composition Honors Recital Wednesday, February 11, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Concert Band & Wind Ensemble with Nashville Youth Wind Ensemble Friday, February 13, 7:30 p.m.
McAfee Concert Hall
Join Belmont University’s College of Music and Performing Arts for Sounds of Belmont: The 36th Annual President’s Concert & Reception on Saturday, April 25th in the Fisher Center at Belmont University. Experience an evening of stories and songs to support our talented students. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a festive dessert reception for all guests and performers. The purchase of a ticket to this concert and reception will benefit endowed music and theatre scholarship funds for students in the college. Premier works from the College of Music and Performing Arts Fall 2025-Spring 2026 performance season will be showcased. This concert and reception is celebrating its thirty-sixth year (formerly the President’s Concert and Reception).
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
