A Lyrical Poem by Rossetti
Sot to music for Solo Soprano, Female Chorus and Orchestra by Debussy
Dorothy Bennett (Soprano)
The Station Chorus: Chorus Master, S. H. Whittaker
The Augmented Station Orchestra, conducted by T.H. Morrison
This is a setting of a French translation of Rossetti's poem of the Blessed Damozel in Heaven, who waits and prays for her lover to join her. Listeners with a volume of Rossetti at hand may find its use add to their pleasure.
(1) There is first a long Orchestral Introduction.
The material of this is all significant, but rather than trying to memorize it, one should give oneself up to absorbing tho mood and atmosphere of the work. At length, a simple melody is hoard in the Flute. This is the tune especially associated with the Damozel. It leads to (2). The CHORUS enters with the opening words, 'The Blessed Damozel leaned out from the golden bar of heaven.' 'A RECITER' enters with the words, 'Her robe, ungirt from clasp to hem.' The Chorus re-enters at 'Around her lovers now met; and Chorus and Reciter continue the description.
(3) This is the longest section, representing seven stanzas of the poem. THE BLESSED DAMOZEL (Soprano) soliloquizes throughout, beginning, ' I wish that ho were come to me, For he will come.'
After the words ' the dear Mother..... Herself shall bring us..... To Him round whom all souls kneel,' a climax is reached at ' there will I ask ... for him and me..... Only to live ... for ever now Together, he and I.'
(4) Chorus : ' She gazed and listened ... and then said: 'All this is when he comes.'
(5) The light thrilled to her, filled with angels
... She laid her face between her hands and wept.'
'BLEST PAIR OF SIRENS'
('At a Solemn Musick')
The Ode by MILTON Set to music for Chorus and Orchestra by HUBERT PARRY
THE STATION CHORUS
THE AUGMENTED STATION ORCHESTRA
THIS is a noble setting for eight-part Chorus and Full Orchestra of Milton's fino poem,
At a Solemn Misuck, which should, if possible, be before the listener as the music is heard.
It begins with a swinging, dignified Orchestral Introduction, which constitutes a sort of orchestral Main Tune,' out of the material of which the orchestral accompaniment of the piece i fashioned.
At last, the Chorus enters, in eight parts, in plain, strong harmonies :
Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven's joy.....
The setting goes on. interweaving tho voice parts in a splendid tapestry of sound, building up noble climaxes-, and ending with tho aspiration:-
O may we soon again renew that song.
And keep in tune with Heaven, till God eve long
To His celestial concert us unite
To live with Him, and sing in endless morn of light.