It is not always May

      No hay pajaros en los nidos de antano.
                  Spanish Proverb 

The sun is bright, -- the air is clear,
  The darting swallows soar and sing.
And from the stately elms I hear
  The bluebird prophesying Spring. 
So blue you winding river flows,
  It seems an outlet from the sky,
Where waiting till the west-wind blows,
  The freighted clouds at anchor lie. 
All things are new;--the buds, the leaves,
  That gild the elm-tree's nodding crest,
And even the nest beneath the eaves;--
   There are no birds in last year's nest! 
All things rejoice in youth and love,
   The fulness of their first delight!
And learn from the soft heavens above
   The melting tenderness of night. 
Maiden, that read'st this simple rhyme,
   Enjoy thy youth, it will not stay;
Enjoy the fragrance of thy prime,
   For oh, it is not always May! 
Enjoy the Spring of Love and Youth,
   To some good angel leave the rest;
For Time will teach thee soon the truth,
  There are no birds in last year's nest!

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) , "It is not always May", 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 John Francis Barnett (1837-1916) , "It is not always May", published 1844. [partsong]
by Doyne Courtenay Bell (1831-1888) , "It is not always May" [voice and piano]
by W. H. Bentley , "It is not always May", op. 2 (Six songs) no. 4. [voice and piano]
by (James) Hamilton Clarke (1840-1912) , "It is not always May" [soprano, contralto, and piano]
by James Munro Coward (1824-1880) , "The sun is bright", published 187-? [chorus and piano or organ]
by Sir Frederic Hymen Cowen (1852-1935) , "It is not always May", published 1892. [voice and piano]
by Charles Gounod (1818-1893) , "It is not always May", published 1871. [voice and piano]
by Cuthbert Harris (1870-1932) , "Spring", op. 4 no. 4. [school song: equal voices in unison with piano]
by John Liptrot Hatton (1809-1886) , "It is not always May", published 186-? [voice and piano]
by Walter Cecil Macfarren (1826-1905) , "All things rejoice", published 1893. [voice and piano]
by Arthur William Marchant (1850-?) , "It is not always May" [school song: two equal voices and piano]
by Isidora Martinez , "It is not always May", published 1902. [voice and piano]
by Ciro Pinsuti (1829-1888) , "It is not always May", published >>1877. [duet with piano]
by Anthony Reiff (?-1880) , "It is not always May", published 1887.
by Hanan Schlesinger (1893-?) , "It is not always May" [voice and piano]
by Mrs. Robert St. John , "Gwendoline" [voice and piano]
by Miss L. E. Stoddard , "It is not always May", published 1866.
by Nicolai P. Thamsen , "It is not always May" [voice and piano]
by Sydney Thomson , "It is not always May", published 1911. [voice and piano]
by Carl Maria (Friedrich Ernst) von Weber (1786-1826) , "The sun is bright"
by J. J. Wickham , "It is not always May" [voice and piano]

Date added to the website: 2008-06-13.

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 Gwendoline, Spring, It is not always May, All things rejoice, The sun is bright, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for Gwendoline, Spring, It is not always May, All things rejoice, The sun is bright, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for Gwendoline, Spring, It is not always May, All things rejoice, The sun is bright, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for Gwendoline, Spring, It is not always May, All things rejoice, The sun is bright, 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