Three Festival Choruses

Song Cycle by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)

1. Let all mortal flesh keep silence
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth he stood
Lord of lords, in human vesture --
In the Body and the Blood --
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of Light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph;
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the Presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, Lord most high.

Amen.

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First published in Orby Shipley's Lyra Eucharistica, 1864
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. Turn back O man

Language: English 
Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways
 . . . . . . . . . .

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3. A festival chime

Language: English 
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Total word count: 137