At the Abbey Gate, Op. 177 (Charles Villiers Stanford)

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• (Posted 2017-08-08)  CPDL #45771:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2017-08-08).   Score information: A4, 13 pages, 177 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: At the Abbey Gate, Op. 177
Composer: Charles Villiers Stanford
Lyricist: C. J. Darling^{create page}

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB, divisi, with Solo Baritone
Genre: Sacred, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1921
Description: This work, which was completed in November 1920, appears to be a tribute to the Unknown Warrior, who was buried in Westminster Abbey on November 11th, 1920.

Original text and translations

English text

Stay - Who goes there?
A Friend
What friend - Whence come you?
From a dark cave beneath a ruined street.
Oh friend, where fare you;
why wouldst thou pass further?
To lay my heart down at our Mother's feet.

Whom call you Mother?
England - Nelson's; thine;
Her whom we proudly serve in life, in death -
Her do I guard, friend -
Canst thou also serve her?
Aye, when they fail her who do yet draw breath.

Who art thou,friend, then?
I was - and am No One -
No name is ours - An unknown host are we.
Pass on, brave spirit.
Oh, 'tis Christ that passes
In thee, poor soldier, who didst die for me.