Blest pair of Sirens (Charles Hubert Hastings Parry)

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Music files

• CPDL #16304:   Sibelius 4

Editor: John Henry Fowler (added 2008-03-06).   Score information: A4, 21 pages, 241 kbytes   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: File Sizes: PDF: 241 KB, MIDI: 58 KB, Sib4: 130 KB.

General Information

Title: Blest pair of Sirens
Composer: Charles Hubert Hastings Parry

Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English
with organ accompanyment.
Published: 1887

Description: Dedicated to C. V. Stanford and the members of the Bach Choir. Described by Parry as an "Ode". Lyrics from John Milton's "At a Solemn Musick".

External websites:

• Historical notes about this work

Original text and translations

English text

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven's joy,

Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse,

Wed your divine sounds, and mixt power employ,

Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce;

And to our high-raised phantasy present

That undisturbed song of pure consent,

Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne

To him that sits thereon,

With saintly shout and solemn jubilee;

Where the bright Seraphim, in burning row,

Their loud, uplifted angel-trumpets blow,

And the Cherubic host in thousand quires

Touch their immortal harps of golden wires,

With those just spirits, that wear victorious palms,

Hymns devout and holy psalms

Singing everlastingly.

That we on Earth with undiscording voice,

May rightly answer that melodious noise;

As once we did, till disproportioned sin

Jarr'd against Nature's chime, and with harsh din

Broke the fair music that all creatures made

To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed

In perfect diapason, whilst they stood

In first obedience, and their state of good.

O may we soon again renew that song

And keep in tune with Heaven, till God ere long

To his celestial consort us unite,

To live with him and sing in endless morn of light.

Lyrics: John Milton