The fairies (Charles Villiers Stanford)

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• (Posted 2024-03-19)  CPDL #79602:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-03-19).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 523 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The fairies
Composer: Charles Villiers Stanford
Lyricist: William Johnson Cory
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1910 Stainer & Bell
Description: Four Part-Songs, Op. 110, No. 3.

Original text and translations

English text

They’re sleeping beneath the roses
Oh! kiss them before they rise,
And tickle their tiny noses,
And sprinkle the dew on their eyes.
Make haste, make haste;
The fairies are caught;
Make haste.

We'll put them in silver cages,
And send them full-dress’d to court,
And maids of honour and pages
Shall turn the poor things to sport.
Be quick, be quick;
Be quicker than thought;
Be quick.

Their scarves shall be pennons for lancers,
We’ll tie up our flowers with their curls,
Their plumes will make fans for dancers,
Their tears shall be set with pearls.
Be wise, be wise;
Make the most of the prize;
Be wise.

They’ll scatter sweet scents by winking,
With sparks from under their feet;
They’ll save us the trouble of thinking,
Their voices will sound so sweet.
Oh stay, oh stay:
They’re up and away:
Oh stay!