The birth of song (Frederick A. Challinor)

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• (Posted 2023-10-02)  CPDL #75966:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-02).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 789 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The birth of song
Composer: Frederick A. Challinor
Lyricist: Reginald Stanton^{create page}
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB, divisi
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1913 Bayley & Ferguson
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Deep in the heart of man when time was young,
God wrought a wondrous longing, vague and strange;
A yearning impulse laboured on his tongue,
And moved his utterance in restless change, in restless change;

Till lo! a song was born, the world’s first song,
A rude, wild strain, that to the hills did rise,
And echoes still, the shores of life along,
All vibrant with eternal energies.

The tender lullaby the mother sings,
Her bosom’s softest strain,
When night’s dark Angel spreads her sable wings
To cover earth again.

The rhythmic battle-song of marching men,
That breaks in waves afar;
Inspiring courage ever noblest when
The foemen strongest are.

The praiseful anthem, surging to the dome
Of some cathedral high;
The strain of happy children in their home,
Or ’neath the Summer sky.

The dirge of solemn organ, pealing slow,
When heroes pass away;
The mighty chorus wrought with chords that flow
With full harmonious sway.

Hail! glorious Spirit, radiant and divine;
For man’s upliftment on this world bestowed,
We tell our joys and sorrows at thy shrine,
And lo! and lo! our souls upsoar to heaven and God.