Night (William Michael Watson)

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• (Posted 2023-12-15)  CPDL #78257:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-12-15).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 671 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Night
Composer: William Michael Watson
Lyricist: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB, divisi
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1903 William C. Hoff
    2nd published: 1923 Theodore Presser Co.
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

Hymn to the Night

I Heard the trailing garments of the Night
Sweep through her marble halls!
I saw her sable skirts all fringed with light
From the celestial walls!

I felt her presence, by its spell of might,
Stoop o’er me from above;
The calm, majestic presence of the Night,
As of the one I love.

O holy Night! from thee I learn to bear
What man has borne before!
Thou layest thy finger on the lips of Care,
And they complain no more.

Peace! Peace! Orestes-like I breathe this prayer!
Descend with broad-winged flight,
The welcome, the thrice-prayed for, the most fair,
The best-belovëd Night!