a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 #

george frideric handel - ode for st. cecilia's day lyrics

(recitative)
from harmony, from heav’nly harmony
this universal frame began

(accompagnato)
when nature underneath a heap
of jarring atoms lay
and could not heave her head
the tuneful voice was heard from high:
“arise! ye more than dead.”
then cold, and hot, and moist and dry
in order to their stations leap
and music’s pow’r obey

(chorus)
from harmony, from heav’nly harmony
this universal frame began
from harmony to harmony
through all the compass of the notes it ran
the diapason closing full in man

(soprano air)
what passion cannot music raise and quell!
when jubal struck the chorded sh+ll
his list’ning brеthren stood around
and wond’ring, on their faces fеll
to worship that celestial sound
less than a god they thought there could not dwell
within the hollow of that sh+ll
that spoke so sweetly and so well
what passion cannot music raise and quell!
(tenor air)
the trumpet’s loud clangor
excites us to arms
with shrill notes of anger
and mortal alarms
the double, double, double beat
of the thund’ring drum
cries: “hark! the foes come;
charge, charge! ’tis too late to retreat.”

(soprano air)
the soft complaining flute
in dying notes discovers
the woes of hopeless lovers
whose dirge is whisper’d by the warbling lute

(tenor air)
sharp violins proclaim
their jealous pangs, and desperation
fury, frantic indignation
depths of pain, and height of passion

(soprano air)
but oh, what art can teach
what human voice can reach
the sacred organ’s praise?
notes inspiring holy love
notes that wing their heav’nly ways
to join the choirs above
(soprano air)
orpheus could lead the savage race
and trees, unrooted, left their place
sequacious of the lyre

(accompagnato)
but bright cecilia raised the wonder high’r:
when to her organ, vocal breath was giv’n
an angel heard, and straight appear’d
mistaking earth for heav’n

(solo and chorus)
as from the pow’r of sacred lays
the spheres began to move
and sung the great creator’s praise
to all the bless’d above;
so when the last and dreadful hour
this crumbling pageant shall devour
the trumpet shall be heard on high
the dead shall live, the living die
and music shall untune the sky

- george frideric handel lyrics

Random Lyrics

HOT LYRICS