Ode for St. Cecilia's Day
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Ode for St. Cecilia's Day is a cantata composed by George Frideric Handel in 1739. The cantata is set to a poem by the English poet John Dryden. The title of the oratorio refers to Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians. The main theme of the text is the Pythagorean theory of harmonia mundi - that music was a central force in the earth's creation.
Henry Purcell also composed an ode for St. Cecilia's day with entirely different music and words.
Contents |
[edit] Songs
- Overture: Larghetto e staccato—allegro—minuet
- Recitative (tenor): From harmony, from heavenly harmony
- Chorus: From harmony, from heavenly harmony
- Aria (soprano): What passion cannot music raise and quell!
- Aria (tenor) and Chorus: The trumpet's loud clangour
- March
- Aria (soprano): The soft complaining flute
- Aria (tenor): Sharp violins proclaim their jealous pangs
- Aria (tenor): But oh! What art can teach
- Aria (soprano): Orpheus could lead the savage race
- Recitative (soprano): But bright Cecilia raised the wonder higher
- Grand Chorus with (soprano): As from the power of sacred lays
[edit] Texts
[edit] From Harmony (Recit)
TENOR: From harmony, from heavenly harmony
This universal frame began.
When nature, underneath a heap, of jarring atoms lay,
And could not heave her head.
The tuneful voice, was heard from high,
Arise! Arise!
Arise ye more than dead!
Then cold, and hot, and moist, and dry,
In order to their stations leap!
And music's power obey!
And music's power obey!
[edit] From Harmony (Chorus)
CHORUS: From harmony, from hevaenly harmony,
This universal frame began.
Through all the compass of the notes it ran,
The diapason closing full in man.
[edit] What Passion Cannot Music Raise and Quell
SOPRANO: What passion cannot music raise, and quell?
When jubal struck, the chorded shell,
His listening brethren stood 'round.
And wondering on their faces fell,
To worship that celestial sound!
[edit] The Trumpet's Loud Clangour
TENOR: The trumpet's loud clangour excites us to arms,
With shrill notes of anger and mortal alarms,
The double-double-double beat,
Of the thund'ring drum,
Cries hark! Hark! Cries hark the foes come!
Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge!
'Tis too late, 'tis too late to retreat!
Charge 'tis too late, too late to retreat!
[edit] Sharp Violins Proclaim
TENOR: Sharp violins proclaim,
Their jealous pangs,
And disparation!
Fury, frantic indignation!
Depth of pains, and height of passion,
For the fair disdainful dame!
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