Hail! Happy Albion! (John Wall Callcott)
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- Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2009-02-21). Score information: A4, 10 pages, 99 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Hail! Happy Albion!
Composer: John Wall Callcott
Lyricist: Thomas Gray (1716-1771)
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: AATTB
or ATTTB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella (originally). Piano accompaniment added by William Horsley (1774-1858).
First published:
Description: A 5 part glee. "The star of Brunswick" refers to the dynasty of the then reigning king of England, George III. It could perhaps be replaced in modern performance by "the star of Windsor".
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Opening two lines adapted from "Annus Mirabilis" (1789) ll. 56-57 by Thomas Cowper (1731-1800).
Remaining lyrics (with minor changes) from "Ode for Music" (1769) ll.71-74 and 89-94 by Thomas Gray (1716-1771).
Hail! Happy Albion! Queen of isles
Peaceful freedom o'er thee smiles :
Thy liberal heart, thy judging eye,
The flower unheeded can descry,
And bid it round heaven's altars shed
The fragrance of its blushing head.
Through the wild waves as they roar,
With watchful eye and dauntless mien,
Thy steady course of honour keep ;
Nor fear the rocks, nor seek the shore,
The star of Brunswick shines serene,
And gilds the horrors of the deep.