In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'

Only a man harrowing clods
In a slow silent walk
With an old horse that stumbles and nods
Half asleep as they stalk.

Only thin smoke without flame
From the heaps of couch-grass1;
Yet this will go onward the same
Though Dynasties pass.

Yonder a maid and her wight2
Come whispering by:
War's annals will cloud into night
Ere their story die.

by Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) , "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'"

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

by Frederic Austin (1872-1952) , "Though dynasties pass", published 1927 [baritone and piano], from Three Wessex Songs
by Joseph W. Baber (1937-) , "In Time of "The Breaking of Nations"", op. 12 no. ? [high voice and piano], from Songs from English Poets, no. ?
by Gary Bachlund , "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'", 2004 [baritone and piano], from Songs of War, no. 1.
by Lloyd E. Burritt (1940-) , "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'", 1963. [madrigal: SATB a cappella]
by Gerald Finzi (1901-1956) , "Only a man harrowing clods", 1924, first performed 1990 [baritone and chamber orchestra], from Requiem da Camera, no. 3.
by Derek Healey (1936-) , "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'", 1961 [soprano or tenor and piano], from Five Thomas Hardy Songs
by Gordon Archbold Slater (1896-1979) , "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'", published 1926. [baritone and piano]
by Ramon Zupko (1932-) , "The Breaking of Nations", published 1964. [SATB a cappella]

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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