Handel’s Childhood (Alfred James Caldicott)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Mp3
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2023-09-29)  CPDL #75863:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-09-29).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 814 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Handel’s Childhood
Composer: Alfred James Caldicott
Lyricist: Margaret Johnson
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1889 J. Curwen & Sons
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Bare and cold the garret chamber,
Gloomy with its shadows dim,
Hung with dusty drooping cobwebs
And drapery so weird and grim.

Suddenly from out the shadows
Of the cold deserted room
Came a strain of sweetest music
Through the dim and ghostly gloom.

While the night stood still to listen,
Soft and low the music sighed,
And in melting, minor measures
Into solemn silence died.

Say, what skilful, wrapt Musician
In the lonely room apart,
Thus made glad the sombre midnight
With his wondrous art.

From the moon now bright, now hidden
In the clouds that crossed her way,
Through the misty garret window,
Shot a slender silver ray.

Glanced upon an ancient spinet,
O’er whose keys, with dust defiled,
Ran the eager dainty fingers
Of a little child.

Boy, In after years the master
Of all mighty harmonies,
With a more than childish rapture
In thy lifted eyes.

Surely in the garret chamber
Dim with shadowy mystery,
While the world slept in the midnight,
Angels talked with thee.