for women’s choir (ssa) a cappella
TRANSCRIPT
Gordon Thornett
THREE FLOWER SONGS SETTINGS OF POEMS BY ROBERT HERRICK
for Women’s Choir (SSA) A Cappella
2015
Gordon Thornett
THREE FLOWER SONGS for Women’s Choir (SSA)
A Cappella
1. To Blossoms 2. To Daffodils 3. Gather ye Rosebuds
All three of these poems are by the seventeenth century English lyric poet, Robert Herrick (1591-1674). While flowers are referred to in each of them, their main common theme is time - in particular the briefness of our lives here on this earth, and the need to use this time well.
‘Gather ye rosebuds’ was in fact the first to be written, and this was in response to a request by the University of Michigan Women’s Glee Club for a song with the theme of time. It was premiered in Ann Arbor, Michigan in November 2013, and a recording can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/gtbham/gather-ye-rosebuds.
‘To Blossoms’ and ‘To Daffodils’ were written more recently, and are awaiting a good recording. Whilst ‘Gather ye rosebuds’, which can be obtained separately from Swirly Music, may be performed on its own, it is suggested that the other two pieces would work best in a sequence, as here presented.
Gordon Thornett has written a number of choral settings for Christmas and other seasons of the year. His Festive Overture, ‘The Joy of Christmas’ is published by Faber Music, and some of his choral pieces are published by Oxford University Press, Norsk Musikforlag and Shawnee Press. There are also about twenty pieces, mainly choral, listed under his name on SwirlyMusic.org, which can be ordered in printed form or as digital downloads.
www.newcarols.com
Copyright © 2015 G.J. Thornett
Unauthorized photocopying or reproduction of any part of this material is prohibited.
Catalog No. GTT-021
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Copyright © G J Thornett 2015
SOPRANO 1
SOPRANO 2
ALTO
So
p
fast, so fast! Fair
mf
pled ges- of a
Moderato q = 96
So
p
fast, so fast! Fair
mf
pled ges- of a
So
p
fast, so fast! Fair
mf
pled ges- of a
fruit ful- tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past, Your date is not so
6
fruit ful- tree, WhyWhy do ye fall so fast?fast? Your date is not so past, Your date is not so
fruit ful- tree, Why so fast?fast?fast? Your date is not so past, Your date is not so
past. But you must stay but here a while,- To blush and gen tly- smile; And
mp
go at
12
past. But you must stay but here a while,- To blush and gen tly- smile; And
mp
go at
past. But you must stay but here a while,- To blush and gen tly- smile; And
mp
go at
4
4
4
4
4
4
&
1. To Blossoms
Gordon ThornettRobert Herrick
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last. Why
p
do ye fall so fast?
18
last. Why
p
do ye fall so fast?
last. Why
p
do ye fall so fast?
What,
mf
were ye born to be An hour
f
or half's de light;- And
mp
so to bid good-
23
What,
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were ye born to be An hour
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or half's de light;-
What,
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were ye born to be An hour
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or half's de light;-
night? 'Twas
mf
pi ty- Na ture- broughtye forth, Mere ly- to show your
28
Good
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night.- 'Twas
mf
pi ty- Na ture- brought ye forth, Mere ly- to show your
Good
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night. 'Twas
mf
pi ty- Na ture- brought ye forth, Mere ly- to show your
worth, And
mp
lose you quite. Why
p
do ye fall so fast?
33
worth,
And
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lose you quite. Why
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do ye fall so
worth, And
mp
lose you quite.
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But
flegato
you are love ly-
38
fast? But
flegato
you are love ly- leaves, where
Why
p
do ye fall so fast? But
f
legato
you are love ly- leaves, where
leaves where we may read how soon things havetheir end, though ne'er so
42
we may read how soon things havetheir end, ne'er so
we may read how soon things havetheir end, though ne'er so
brave: And
mf
af ter- they have showntheir pride Like you a while,- they
mp
glide in to- the
46
brave: And
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glide in to- the
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grave, the grave, the
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grave. So
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fast, so
52
grave, the grave, the
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grave. So
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fast, so fast!
grave, they glide in to- the grave, the
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grave. So
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fast, so fast!
fast! Why do ye fall so fast? Why
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do ye
59
Why do ye fall so fast?
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fall so fast? fall
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so fast?
poco rit.
62
Why
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do ye fall so fast? fall
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fast? Why
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do ye fall so fast? fall
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© G J Thornett 2015
SOPRANO 1
SOPRANO 2
ALTO
Fair
mf
Daf fo- dils,- we weep to see you haste a way- so soon; And yet the ear ly-
Allegretto q. = 80
Fair
mf
Daf fo- dils,- we weep to see you haste a way- so soon; And yet the
Fair
mf
Daf fo- dils,- we weep to see you haste a way- so soon; The
ri sing- sun has not at tain'd- his noon. Stay,
f
stay, stay, stay,
6
ri sing- sun has not at tain'd- his noon. Stay,
f
stay, Un
mf
ri sing- sun has not at tain'd- his noon.noon. Stay,
f
stay, Un
mf
til- the hast ing-
Un
mf
til- the hast ing day has run But to the e ven- song;- And,hav ing- pray'd to-
12
til the hast ing day has run, the day has run But to the e ven- song;- And,hav ing- pray'd to-
day has run, the day has run But to the e ven- song;- And,hav ing- pray'd to-
6
8
6
8
6
8
&
2. To Daffodils
Gordon ThornettRobert Herrick
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geth er,- we will go with you a long.- Daf
pp
fo- dils,- fair daf fo- dils.- We
p
18
geth er,- we will go with you a long.- Daf
pp
fo- dils,- fair daf fo- dils.- We
p
geth er,- we will go with you a long.- Daf
pp
fo- dils,- fair daf fo- dils.- We
p
have short time to stay, as you, We have as short a spring; As quick a growth to meet de cay,- as
mf
25
have short time to stay, as you, We have as short a spring; As quick to meet de cay,- as
mf
have short time to stay, as you, We have as short a spring; To meet de cay,- as
mf
you, or a ny- thing. We
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die as your hours do, and dry a way,- like to the sum mer-
31
you, or a ny- thing. We
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die as your hours do, and dry a way,- like to the
you, or a ny- thing. We
mp
die as your hours do, and dry a way,- like
rain; Or as the pearls of morn ing's- dew, Ne'er
p
morendo
to be found a gain.-
poco rall.
Meno mosso e = 160
37
sum mer- rain; Or as the pearls of morn ing- dew Ne'er
p
to
morendo
be found a gain.-
to the sum mer- rain; Or as the pearls of morn ing- dew Ne'er
p
to
morendo
be found a gain.-
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Vivo q. = 100
For Jaclyn Johnson and the University of Michigan Glee Club
3. Gather ye rosebuds
Gordon ThornettRobert Herrick (1591-1674)
Copyright © 2013 G J Thornett
www.newcarols.com
SOPRANO 1
SOPRANO 2
ALTO
7
13
6
8
6
8
6
8
&
∑
While
p
ye may, while
-
ye may.
&
While
p
ye may, while
-
ye may.
&
While
p
ye may, while
-
ye may.
&
Gath
mf
er- ye rose buds- whileye may, Old time is still a fly- ing: And
&
p
∑ ∑
While
p
ye may,
&
p
∑ ∑
While
p
ye may,
&
this same flow'r that smiles to day- To
p
mor- row- will be dy ing.
&
∑ ∑
while ye may,
∑
To
p
-
&
∑ ∑
while ye may,
∑
dy
p
ing,-
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19
25
30
Meno mosso q. = 82
&
The
f
glo rious- lamp of heav'n, the sun, The high er- he's a -
&
mor row- will be dy ing. The
f
glo rious- lamp of heav'n, the sun, The high er- he's a -
&
dy ing,- dy ing,- dy ing.- The
f
glo rious- lamp of heav'n, the sun, The high er- he's a -
&
get ting,- The soon er- will his race be run, And near er- he's to
&
get ting,- The soon er- will his race be run, And near er- he's to
&
get ting,- The soon er- will his race be run, his race be run, And near er- he's to
&
set ting.
∑
The
mf
age is best which is the first, When
&
set ting. While
mp
ye may, while ye may, while ye may, while ye may, When
mf
&
set ting.- While
mp
ye may, while ye may, while ye may, while ye may, When
mf
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8
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36
rit.
41
Poco meno mosso q. = 72 Vivo q. = 100
48
&
youth and blood are warm er;-
∑ ∑ ∑
&
youth and blood are warm er;- But
mf espr.
be ing- spent, they still suc ceed- the
&
youth and blood are warm er;- But
mf espr.
be ing- spent, the worse and worst Times still suc ceed- the
&
∑
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