Easter (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

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• CPDL #17104:

Contributor: David Newman (submitted 2008-06-07).   Score information: A4, 9 pages, 538 kbytes   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Cross posting by Art Song Central.

General Information

Title: Easter
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Lyricist: George Herbert

Number of voices: 1v  Voicing: Solo Baritone, with SATB chorus ad. lib.
Genre: Sacred, Sacred song

Language: English
Instruments: Piano
Published: 1911

Description: "Easter" is Number 1 in Ralph Vaughan Williams Song Collection entitled "5 Mystical Songs". The work sets four poems by George Herbert, from his 1633 collection "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations".

External websites:

Original text and translations

English text
"Easter", from "The Temple: Sacred Poems and Private Ejaculations", published 1633

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise

Without delays,

Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise

With him may'st rise;

That, as his death calcined thee to dust,

His life may make thee gold, and much more, Just.

Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part

With all thy art.

The cross taught all wood to resound his name

Who bore the same.

His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key

Is best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song

Pleasant and long:

Or since all music is but three parts vied,

And multiplied;

O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,

And make up our defects with his sweet art.