by George William Russell (1867 - 1935)
The great breath
Language: English
Its edges foamed with amethyst and rose, Withers once more the old blue flower of day: There where the ether like a diamond glows Its petals fade away. A shadowy tumult stirs the dusky air; Sparkle the delicate dews, the distant snows; The great deep thrills, for through it everywhere The breath of Beauty blows. I saw how all the trembling ages past, Moulded to her by deep and deeper breath, Neared to the hour when Beauty breathes her last And knows herself in death.
Authorship:
- by George William Russell (1867 - 1935), "The great breath", appears in Homeward: Songs by the Way, first published 1894 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (James) Shaun Hamilton Dillon (1944 - 2018), "The great breath", first performed 1974 [ soprano, flute, guitar, and piano ], from cantata Cantata in Memoriam [sung text not yet checked]
- by Fritz Bennicke Hart (1874 - 1949), "The great breath", op. 34 (Seven Sets of Seven Songs, Set VII) no. 4 (1918) [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 85