I picked up the second volume of Naxos’ English Song Series one day while
browsing a local music shop’s Classical Room. I was looking for some light
music to either work or write to and found these next to my trusty “early
music” shelf[1]. The
album contains 31 poems from a variety of different poets and writers, set to
music by the composer Arthur Somervell (1863 – 1937).
One thing I love about Naxos’ albums is that they have
a booklet containing an introduction to the music as well as the lyrics of the
songs included. While I knew some of the songs from other albums, I was
surprised again at the beauty and scope of the songs included. While listening
to the album and reading through the poems and songs, it is very difficult not
to be inspired!
Here are two of the songs included on the album. One
is a poem by A.E. Housman, “White in the moon the long road lies” and the other
is from William Shakespeare’s Henry VIII;
“Orpheus with his lute”.
White in the
moon the long road lies
A.E. Housman
White in the moon the long road lies,
The moon stands blank above;
White in the moon the long road lies
That leads me from my love.
Still hangs the hedge without a gust,
Still, still the shadows stay:
My feet upon the moonlit dust
Pursue the ceaseless way.
The world is round, so travellers tell,
And straight tho’ reach the track,
Trudge on, trudge on, ‘twill all be well,
The way will guide one back.
But ere the circle homeward hies,
Far, far must it remove:
White in the moon the long road lies
That leads me from my love.
Orpheus with
his lute
William
Shakespeare
Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain tops, that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did sing.
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung: as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.
Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art:
Killing care and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing, die.
I found this beautiful rendition of "White in the moon the long road lies" - enjoy!
[1] I usually have a fixed route when browsing the shop – start in
front with Irish, Scottish and Welsh music. Move to Early Music, then go on to
ballet scores before ending up in the back row with different vocal artists,
new releases and then checking if any of the Gilbert & Sullivan operas are
affordable (When are they actually going to have The Mikado when I also have
money to buy it?) before doing a quick tour of other composers to see if
there’s anything interesting available.
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