Phoenix Chorale: Hymn to St Cecilia - Britten

Phoenix Chorale
Christopher Gabbitas, Artistic Director
Composer: Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Text: WH Auden (1907-1973)
Performed at 'unCLOUDED day', a concert to celebrate the return of live choral music following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Soloists:
Lies’l Hill, soprano
Nina Garguilo, soprano
Julia Powers, alto
Thomas Strawser, tenor
Christopher Herrera, bass
Learn more about Phoenix Chorale at www.phoenixchorale.org
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Video Direction: Andrew Staples
Sound Engineering: Sound Mirror
I
In a garden shady this holy lady
With reverent cadence and subtle psalm,
Like a black swan as death came on
Poured forth her song in perfect calm:
And by ocean's margin this innocent virgin
Constructed an organ to enlarge her prayer,
And notes tremendous from her great engine
Thundered out on the Roman air.
Blonde Aphrodite rose up excited,
Moved to delight by the melody,
White as an orchid she rode quite naked
In an oyster shell on top of the sea;
At sounds so entrancing the angels dancing
Came out of their trance into time again,
And around the wicked in Hell's abysses
The huge flame flickered and eased their pain.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
II
I cannot grow;
I have no shadow
To run away from,
I only play.
I cannot err;
There is no creature
Whom I belong to,
Whom I could wrong.
I am defeat
When it knows it
Can now do nothing
By suffering.
All you lived through,
Dancing because you
No longer need it
For any deed.
I shall never be
Different. Love me.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire;
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.
III
O ear whose creatures cannot wish to fall,
O calm of spaces unafraid of weight,
Where Sorrow is herself, forgetting all
The gaucheness of her adolescent state,
Where Hope within the altogether strange
From every outworn image is released,
And Dread born whole and normal like a beast
Into a world of truths that never change:
Restore our fallen day; O re-arrange.
O dear white children casual as birds,
Playing among the ruined languages,
So small beside their large confusing words,
So gay against the greater silences
Of dreadful things you did: O hang the head,
Impetuous child with tremendous brain,
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain,
Lost innocence who wished your lover dead,
Weep for the lives your wishes never led.
O cry created as the bow of sin
Is drawn across our trembling violin.
O weep, child, weep, O weep away the stain.
O law drummed out by hearts against the still
Long winter of our intellectual will.
That what has been may never be again.
O flute that throbs with the thanksgiving breath
Of convalescents on the shores of death.
O bless the freedom that you never chose.
O trumpets that unguarded children blow
About the fortress of their inner foe.
O wear your tribulation like a rose.
Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire;
Translated Daughter, come down and startle
Composing mortals with immortal fire.

[@dr.pingel2447]

In my German Vocal Consort we performed this wonderfui piece years ago. This recording is outstanding,, especially the clear voices of the sopranos.The part for solo soprano "Oh dear white children" is one of the most beautiful melodies Britten composed, especially sung by this wonderful soloist.

[@brandom1953]

Really lovely performance of an exceptional piece of music. Auden's words were given life and meaning by Britten's genius that may have been quite ordinary otherwise.

[@garyhinkle5736]

Thank You Chris Gabbitas And The Glorious Voices Of The Phoenix Chorale For This Gift Of Music🎵

[@davidfetz2364]

My favorite Cecilia ode! Thank you for such a lovely gift.

[@keithswanson321]

Stunning!

[@peterwimsey5904]

thanks for including the text