Ode to St. Cecilia (Purcell)
Encyclopedia
Hail! Bright Cecilia also known as Ode to St. Cecilia, was composed to a text by Nicholas Brady
by Henry Purcell
in 1692 in honour of the feast day of Saint Cecilia
, patron saint of musicians. Annual celebrations of this saint's feast day (November 22) began in 1683, organized by the Musical Society of London, a group of musicians and music lovers. Purcell had already written Cecilian pieces in previous years, but this Ode remains the best known. The first performance was a great success, and received an encore.
In spite of Brady's conceit of the speaking forest
(It should be remembered that English organs
of the period typically had wooden pipes), Purcell scored the warlike music for two brass trumpet
s and copper kettle drums instead of fife
and (field) drum. The orchestra also includes two recorders (called flutes) with a bass flute, strings
and basso continuo.
Purcell is one of several composers who have written music in honour of Cecilia.
Nicholas Brady
Nicholas Brady , Anglican divine and poet, was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland. He received his education at Westminster School and at Christ Church, Oxford; he graduated from Trinity College, Dublin....
by Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
in 1692 in honour of the feast day of Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia is the patroness of musicians and Church music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". St. Cecilia was an only child. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican,...
, patron saint of musicians. Annual celebrations of this saint's feast day (November 22) began in 1683, organized by the Musical Society of London, a group of musicians and music lovers. Purcell had already written Cecilian pieces in previous years, but this Ode remains the best known. The first performance was a great success, and received an encore.
In spite of Brady's conceit of the speaking forest
Dodona
Dodona in Epirus in northwestern Greece, was an oracle devoted to a Mother Goddess identified at other sites with Rhea or Gaia, but here called Dione, who was joined and partly supplanted in historical times by the Greek god Zeus.The shrine of Dodona was regarded as the oldest Hellenic oracle,...
(It should be remembered that English organs
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
of the period typically had wooden pipes), Purcell scored the warlike music for two brass trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s and copper kettle drums instead of fife
Fife (musical instrument)
A fife is a small, high-pitched, transverse flute that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller due to its narrower bore. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in military and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer...
and (field) drum. The orchestra also includes two recorders (called flutes) with a bass flute, strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
and basso continuo.
Purcell is one of several composers who have written music in honour of Cecilia.
Text
| 2. Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail! fill ev'ry Heart! With Love of thee and thy Celestial Art; That thine and Musick's Sacred Love May make the British Forest prove As Famous as Dodona's Vocal Grove. 3. Hark! hark! each Tree its silence breaks, The Box and Fir to talk begin! This is the sprightly Violin That in the Flute distinctly speaks! 'Twas Sympathy their list'ning Brethren drew, When to the Thracian Lyre with leafy Wings they flew. 4. 'Tis Natures's Voice; thro' all the moving Wood Of Creatures understood: The Universal Tongue to none Of all her num'rous Race unknown! From her it learnt the mighty Art To court the Ear or strike the Heart: At once the Passions to express and move; We hear, and straight we grieve or hate, rejoice or love: In unseen Chains it does the Fancy bind; At once it charms the Sense and captivates the Mind 5. Soul of the World! Inspir'd by thee, The jarring Seeds of Matter did agree, Thou didst the scatter'd Atoms bind, Which, by thy Laws of true proportion join'd, Made up of various Parts one perfect Harmony. 6. Thou tun'st this World below, the Spheres above, Who in the Heavenly Round to their own Music move. 7. With that sublime Celestial Lay Can any Earthly Sounds compare? If any Earthly Music dare, The noble Organ may. From Heav'n its wondrous Notes were giv'n, (Cecilia oft convers'd with Heaven,) Some Angel of the Sacred Choire Did with his Breath the Pipes inspire; And of their Notes above the just Resemblance gave, Brisk without Lightness, without Dulness Grave. |
8. Wondrous Machine! To thee the Warbling Lute, Though us'd to Conquest, must be forc'd to yield: With thee unable to dispute. 9. The Airy Violin And lofty Viol quit the Field; In vain they tune their speaking Strings To court the cruel Fair, or praise Victorious Kings. Whilst all thy consecrated Lays Are to more noble Uses bent; And every grateful Note to Heav'n repays The Melody it lent. 10. In vain the Am'rous Flute and soft Guitarr, Jointly labour to inspire Wanton Heat and loose Desire; Whilst thy chaste Airs do gentle move Seraphic Flames and Heav'nly Love. 11. The Fife and all the Harmony of War, In vain attempt the Passions to alarm, Which thy commanding Sounds compose and charm. 12. Let these amongst themselves contest, Which can discharge its single Duty best. Thou summ'st their diff'ring Graces up in One, And art a Consort of them All within thy Self alone. 13. Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail to thee! Great Patroness of Us and Harmony! Who, whilst among the Choir above Thou dost thy former Skill improve, With Rapture of Delight dost see Thy Favourite Art Make up a Part Of infinite Felicity. Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail to thee! Great Patroness of Us and Harmony! |