The Village Choir (Edward Cutler)

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• (Posted 2023-10-09)  CPDL #76159:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-09).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 393 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Village Choir
Composer: Edward Cutler
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1903 Novello, Ewer, and Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Before a village casement, in the wintry twilight air,
A doubting lover waiting stood ’twixt hope and dull despair,
And it’s “What would be her answer?” and he heaved a deep drawn sigh—
“Shall I tempt my fate with petaled flower, or the hazard of a die?”
The timed suitor sadly, went on his weary way,
For to his ears was wafted on the wintry wind this lay—
“Fond love is like the moonbeam, that shimmers to betray,
And lends its light to treacherous mist to lead men from their way.
And when they seek the beacon a cloud obscures its beam,
So when woman’s eyes shine brightest, ’tis but a treacherous gleam.”

Before that village window, in the balmy summer night,
A sunburnt man is watching eagerly a flitting light.
There are medals on his breast, Hope is written on his face,
“I bring the news of ended war, that’s worth a warm embrace:”
The window opened gently, The embrace was warm and long—
The village choir with altered note was trolling out this song:
“Fond love is like the sunbeam, a shaft from Heaven’s gate,
Which cheers despair and teaches men to labour and to wait;
As melts the deepest sorrow when loving bosoms glow,
So clouds which seem the darkest a silver lining show.”