Before the Dawn

In the hush of the morn before the sun
I waken to think of thee
And all the sweet day thus begun
As hallowed sees to be.

In the holly repose the morning star
With trembling awaits the sun,
And thus my heart if near or far
Awaits thee, sweetest one.

In a golden ecstasy of bliss
The fair morning star wil die
But I immortal by thy kiss
Live but when thou art nigh.

by Arlo Bates (1850-1918) , "Aubado", from Berries of the Brier, in A Lover's Canticles, no. 1, published 1886

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

by George Whitefield Chadwick (1854-1931) , "Before the Dawn", op. 8 (Three love Songs) no. 3 (1882). [soprano or tenor and piano]

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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Classical Vocal Repertoire