Autumn (George Tootell)
Music files
ICON | SOURCE |
---|---|
Mp3 | |
File details | |
Help |
- Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-12-13). Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 590 kB Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Autumn
Composer: George Tootell
Lyricist: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1920 Novello and Co.
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
There is a beautiful spirit breathing now
Its mellow richness on the clustered trees,
And, from a beaker full of richest dyes,
Pouring new glory on the autumn woods,
And dipping in warm light the pillared clouds.
Morn, on the mountain, like a summer bird,
Lifts up her purple wing; and in the vales
The gentle wind, a sweet and passionate wooer,
Kisses the blushing leaf, and stirs up life
Within the solemn woods, [of ash deep-crimsoned,
And silver beech, and maple yellow-leaved,]
Where Autumn, like a faint old man, sits down
By the wayside a-weary. [Through the trees
The golden robin moves. The purple finch,
That on wild cherry and red cedar feeds,
A winter bird, comes with its plaintive whistle,
And pecks by the witch-hazel, whilst aloud
From cottage roofs the warbling blue-bird sings,
And merrily, with oft-repeated stroke,
Sounds from the threshing-floor the busy flail.]
Oh, what a glory doth this world put on
For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth
Under the bright and glorious sky, and looks
On duties well performed, and days well spent!