The Village Blacksmith

Under a spreading chestnut-tree
    The village smithy stands; 
The smith, a mighty man is he,
    With large and sinewy hands; 
And the muscles of his brawny arms
    Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
    His face is like the tan; 
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
    He earns whate'er he can, 
And looks the whole world in the face,
    For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,
    You can hear his bellows blow; 
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
    With measured beat and slow, 
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
    When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school
    Look in at the open door; 
They love to see the flaming forge,
    And hear the bellows roar, 
And catch the burning sparks that fly
    Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church,
    And sits among his boys; 
He hears the parson pray and preach,
    He hears his daughter's voice, 
Singing in the village choir,
    And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
    Singing in Paradise! 
He needs must think of her once more,
    How in the grave she lies; 
And with his hard, rough hand he wipes
    A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,---rejoicing,---sorrowing,
    Onward through life he goes; 
Each morning sees some task begin,
    Each evening sees it close; 
Something attempted, something done,
    Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
    For the lesson thou hast taught! 
Thus at the flaming forge of life
    Our fortunes must be wrought; 
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
    Each burning deed and thought.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) , "The Village Blacksmith", from Ballads and Other Poems, published 1842

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Thomas Anderton (1836-1903) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1898 [cantata], note: also set in German
by Michael William Balfe (1808-1870) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 186-? [voice, piano]
by William Henry Berwald (1864-1948) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1917. [mixed voices, piano]
by John Blockley (1800-1882) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1857. [voice, piano]
by Dudley Buck (1839-1909) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1893. [baritone or bass, piano]
by Herbert Daykin , "The Village Blacksmith" [voice, piano]
by Samuel Richards Gaines (1869-1945) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1925. [cantata: mixed voices, soprano and baritone soli, piano or orchestra]
by William Edwin Haesche (1867-1929) , "The Village Blacksmith", op. 34, published 1911 [cantata: male chorus, tenor solo, piano or orchestra], note: also set in German
by Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759) , "The Harmonius Blacksmith", HWV 430.
by John Liptrot Hatton (1809-1886) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1870? [SATB or ATBB]
by Charles F. Heuberer , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1848. [voice, piano]
by T. L. Jephson , "The Village Blacksmith", published c1870. [baritone, piano]
by Richard Kountz (1896-1950) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1924. [cantata: SSA chorus, piano or orchestra]
by William Harold Neidlinger (1863-1924) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1918. [SATB, piano or organ]
by George Balch Nevin (1859-1933) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1893. [baritone or bass, piano]
by Charles F. Noyes , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1898. [mixed voices, piano, organ, anvil]
by George Peabody , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1890. [baritone or bass, piano]
by Carl Reinhardt , "The Village Blacksmith", published 186-? [voice, piano]
by W. Rhys-Herbert , "The Village Blacksmith" [voice, piano]
by Carl Wagner , "The Village Blacksmith" [voice, piano]
by David A. Warden , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1867/72. [voice, piano]
by Willoughby Hunter Weiss (1820-1867) , "The Village Blacksmith", published 1851. [medium voice, piano]

by Thomas Anderton (1836-1903) , "Der Dorfschmied", published 1898 [cantata], note: also set in English

by William Edwin Haesche (1867-1929) , "Der Dorfschmied", op. 34, published 1911 [cantata: male chorus, tenor solo, piano or orchestra], note: also set in English

GER German (Linda Godry)

Date added to the website: 2004-05-08.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

Search/Shop for

Sheet music:

  Search sheetmusicplus.com for The Harmonius Blacksmith, The Village Blacksmith, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for The Harmonius Blacksmith, The Village Blacksmith, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for The Harmonius Blacksmith, The Village Blacksmith, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for The Harmonius Blacksmith, The Village Blacksmith, art song, Lieder, or chansons

Books:

  The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
  The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
  Search amazon.com for art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for art song, lieder, or chansons

Classical Vocal Repertoire