To May (George J. Webb)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Mp3
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2024-02-19)  CPDL #79180:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-02-19).   Score information: Letter, 16 pages, 741 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: To May
Composer: George J. Webb
Lyricist: Jonathan Lawrence
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1847 Wilkins, Carter, & Co.
Description: Poem altered from original by the composer.

Original text and translations

English text

    Come, gentle May!
Come with thy robe of flowers,
Come with thy sun and sky, thy clouds and showers,
    Come and bring forth unto the light of day,
From their imprisoning and mysterious night,
The buds of many hues, the children of thy light.

    Come, wondrous May!
Come with thy magic wand,
Quick from the caverns of the breathing land:
    Come with thy green and ever bright array,
That round thy footsteps spring along the vale;
While glowing hearts and lips thy balmy presence hail!

    Come, vocal May!
Come with thy warbling throng
Pouring from field and grove their breathing song:
    Carolling forth thy praise the livelong day,
In some lone glen retired, or echo calling,
Or ’mid the murmuring woods, and dashing waters falling.

    Come, sunny May!
Come with thy laughing beam,
Come when the mist is parting from the stream:
    Seeking the mountain-top to meet thy ray,
Ere yet the dew-drop on thine own soft flower
Hath lost its diamond light, or died beneath his power.