The monstrous sea (Bridges, set by C. Parry) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


Chorus 
 The monstrous sea, with melancholy war, 
 Moateth about our castled shore, 
 His worldwide elemental moan, 
 Girdeth our lives with tragic zone. 
 Awhile to the wind he awakes: his seething ridges go 
 Following, following, row on row, 
 Lashed with hail and withering snow, 
 And ever dauntless hearts outride 
 The orphaning waters, wild and wide. 
 But when the winds, out-tired or fled, 
 Have left the drooping barks unsped, 
 Gently in calm his waves he swayeth, 
 And with the gentle moonlight playeth, 
 And all his mighty Music deep, 
 Whispers among the heapèd shells, 
 And tinkles softly with the bells 
 Of the clowns' unfolded sheep. 
 In the twinkling smile of his boundless slumber, 
 To the rhythm of oars,
 When the wild herds of his freedom outnumber 
 The sands of his shores, 
 When they toss their manes with delight,
 O'er the unpasturing field of the flood,
 When the waters have glowed with blood, 
 And hearts have laughed in the fight.
 Return, O Muse! return! 
 In the old sea songs of renown,
 In the noise of battle and victory, 
 By the mighty life and the changeful voice,
 Of the world-encircling sea;
 We have called, 
 O Muse of our isle, to thee.

Authorship

Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930)

Invocation to Music

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

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)

Invocation to music - An Ode in Honour of Henry Purcell

Date added to the website: 2009-07-30.

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.