Ricercar II: Tomorrow shall be... (Sacred History)
Language: English
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day, I would my true love did so chance to see the legend of my play. Ritornello To call my true love to my dance, Cantus Cancrizans Sing, oh, my love, my love, my love, This have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a Virgin pure, of her I took fleshly substance; Thus was I knit to man's nature, Ritornello To call my true love to my dance, Cantus Cancrizans Sing, oh, my love, my love, my love, This have I done for my true love. Canon In a manger laid and wrapp'd I was, So very poor, this was my chance, Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, Ritornello To call my true love to my dance. Canon Then afterwards baptiz'd I was, The Holy Ghost on me did glance, My father's voice heard from above, Ritornello To call my true love to my dance. Canon Into the desert I was led, Where I fasted without substance; The Devil bade me make stones my bread, Ritornello To have me break my true love's dance. Canon The Jews on me they made great suit, And with me made great variance; Because they lov'd darkness rather than light, Ritornello To call my true love to my dance. Canon For thirty pence Judas me sold, His covetousness for to advance; Mark whom I kiss, the same do hold, Ritornello The same is he shall lead the dance. Canon Before Pilate the Jews me brought, Where Barabbas had deliverance, They scourg'd me and set me at nought, Ritornello Judg'd me to die to lead the dance. Canon Then on the cross hang'd I was, Where a spear to my heart did glance, There issu'd forth both water and blood, Ritornello To call my true love to my dance. Canon Then down to Hell I took my way For my true love's deliverance, And rose again on the third day Ritornello Up to my true love and the dance. Canon Then up to Heaven I did ascend, Where now I dwell in sure substance, On the right hand of God, that man Ritornello May come unto the gen'ral dance.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971), "Ricercar II: Tomorrow shall be... (Sacred History)", 1951-2, first performed 1952 [ soprano, tenor, women's chorus, and instrumental ensemble ], from cantata Cantata, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]
Set in a modified version by Gustav Holst, John Rutter, CBE.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-03-23
Line count: 71
Word count: 366