Text: Robert Herrick
Language: English
Ensemble: SATB (div.)
Accompaniment: A capella
Duration: 5.0 minutes
Page Count: 7
Catalog Number: NWC-117
Available from J. W. Pepper.
An a cappella setting of the 17th century poem by Robert Herrick (1591-1674). The music vividly paints the text with interesting and unusual harmonic progressions, at times Poulenc-esque, with shifting diatonic harmonies and angular melodies for the sopranos, with a rising soaring soprano line at the final cadence. Always with a sense of clear voice leading, it is both challenging and rewarding to perform. Some occasional divisi throughout in all parts.
Text:
Charm me asleep, and melt me so
With thy delicious numbers,
That, being ravish'd, hence I go
Away in easy slumbers.
Ease my sick head,
And make my bed,
Thou power that canst sever
From me this ill,
And quickly still,
Though thou not kill
My fever.
Thou sweetly canst convert the same
From a consuming fire
Into a gentle licking flame,
And make it thus expire.
Then make me weep
My pains asleep;
And give me such reposes
That I, poor I,
May think thereby
I live and die
'Mongst roses.
Fall on me like the silent dew,
Or like those maiden showers
Which, by the peep of day, do strew
A baptim o'er the flowers.
Melt, melt my pains
With thy soft strains;
That, having ease me given,
With full delight
I leave this light,
And take my flight
For Heaven.
Robert Herrick (1591-1674)