Recitative: Still tho' the scene of possible summer recedes, and the guns can be heard across the hills like waves at night: though crawling suburbs fill their valleys with the stench of idleness like rotting weeds, and desire unacted breeds its pestilence. Tenor solo: Yet still below the soot the roots are sure and beyond the guns there is another murmur like pigeons flying unnotice'd over continents with secret messages of peace: and at the centre of wheeling conflict the heart is calmer the promise nearer than ever it came before.
Recitative and Choral
Set by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Recitative and Choral", op. 14 no. 3, published 1939 [ tenor or soprano solo, chorus, and orchestra ], from Ballad of Heroes, no. 3 [sung text not yet checked]
Note: this setting is made up of several separate texts.
Text Authorship:
- by Randall Carline Swingler (1909 - 1967)
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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Chorus: Europe lies in the dark. City and flood and tree; thousands have work'd and work to master necessity. To build the city where the will of love is done and brought to its full flower the dignity of man. Pardon them their mistakes, the impatient and wavering will. They suffer for our sakes, honour, honour them all. Honour, honour them all. Dry their imperfect dust, the wind blows it back and forth, they die to make man just and worthy of the earth.
Text Authorship:
- by W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)
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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]Author(s): Randall Carline Swingler (1909 - 1967), W. H. (Wystan Hugh) Auden (1907 - 1973)