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Sun, Moon and Stars

Song Cycle by Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 - 1994)

1. Sun, moon and stars
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
All appeared new and strange at first,
inexpressibly rare and delightful and beautiful.
The streets were mine, the Temple was mine, the
People were mine, and so were the sun and moon and
Stars, and all the world was mine. All things
Were spotless and pure and glorious, Yea and
Infinitely mine and joyful and precious. But
little did the Infant dream that all the treasures
of the world were by. And that himself was so the
cream and crown of all, which round about did lie.

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Traherne (1637? - 1674)

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

2. The hill
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Rise, noble soul and come away;
Let us no longer waste the day:
Come let us haste to yonder Hill,
Where pleasures fresh are growing still.

The way at first is rough and steep;
And something hard for to ascend:
But on the top do pleasures keep
And ease and joys do still attend.
Come let us go: and do not fear
The hardest way, while I am near.
My heart with thine shall mingled be;
Thy sorrows mine, my joys with thee.
Rise and come away.

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Traherne (1637? - 1674), "The hill"

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

3. Solitude
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
How desolate!
Ah how forlorn, how desolate.
How sadly did I stand
When in the field my woeful state I felt!
Not all the land,
Not all the skies
Tho' heaven shined before mine eyes,
Could comfort yield in any field to me.
Nor could my mind contentment find or see;
Felicity! O where? O where?
Shall I thee find to ease my mind! O where?

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Traherne (1637? - 1674), "Solitude"

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

4. Clothed with the stars
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
You never enjoy the world aright till you are
clothed with the stars. Till your spirit filleth
the whole world and the stars are your jewels.

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Traherne (1637? - 1674)

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 266
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