Orpheus with his lute

General information

Lyricist: William Shakespeare. From Henry VIII Act III scene I

Notes on selected settings

• Maurice Greene Solo w/ bc

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Thomas Crampton — Orpheus with his lute  English SATB
• Maurice Greene — Orpheus with his lute  English solo high
• Henry Knight — Orpheus with his Lute  English SATB
• George Alexander Macfarren — Orpheus, with his lute  English SATB
• Lord Mornington — Orpheus with his lute  English SATB
• Richard John Samuel Stevens — Orpheus with his lute  English SSATB
• John Whittaker — Orpheus with his lute  English SATB

Texts and Translations

English text Orpheus with his lute made trees And the mountain tops that freeze Bow themselves while he did sing. To his music plants and flowers Ever sprung as sun and showers There had made a lasting spring. Everything that heard him play Ev'n the billows of the sea, Hung their heads and then lay by. In sweet music is such art Killing care and grief of heart. Fall asleep or hearing, die.

German translation Orpheus’ Laute hieß die Wipfel wüster Berge kalte Gipfel, niedersteigen, wenn er sang. Pflanz’ und Blüt’ und Frühlingssegen sprosst, als folgten Sonn’ und Regen Ewig nur dem Wunderklang. Alle Wesen, so ihn hörten, Wogen selbst, die sturmempörten, neigten still ihr Haupt herab. Solche Macht ward süßen Tönen; Herzensweh und tödlich Sehnen wiegten sie in Schlaf und Grab.