The chivalry of the sea (Charles Hubert Hastings Parry)

Music files

L E G E N D

Disclaimer

How to download

ICON	SOURCE
	Web Page
	File details
	Help

• (Posted 2009-05-03)  CPDL #19396: 

Contributor: Jim Cooke (submitted 2009-05-03).  Score information: A4, 36 pages, 9.99 MB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: The Chivalry of the Sea - a Naval Ode
Composer: Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
Lyricist: Robert Bridges

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SSATB
Genre: Secular, Anthem

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1916 by Novello and Company, Ltd
Description: Described as a Naval Ode - dedicated to Charles Fisher, late student of Christ Church, Oxford.

External websites:

• Free choir training aids for this work are available at Choralia.

Original text and translations

English text

Over the warring waters, beneath the wandering skies
The heart of Britain roameth, the Chivalry of the sea,
Where Spring never bringeth a flower, nor bird singeth in a tree;
Far, afar, O beloved, beyond the sight of our eyes,
Over the warring waters, beneath the stormy skies.

Staunch and valiant-hearted, to whom our toil were play,
Ye man with armour'd patience the bulwarks night and day,
Or on your iron coursers plough shuddering through the Bay,
Or neath the deluge drive the skirmishing sharks of war:
Venturous boys who leapt on the pinnace and row'd from shore,
A mother's tear in the eye, a swift farewell to say.
And a great glory at heart that none can take away.

Seldom is your home-coming; for aye your pennon flies
In unrecorded exploits on the tumultuous wave;
Till, in the storm of battle, fast-thundering upon the foe,
Ye add your kindred names to the heroes of long-ago,
And mid the blasting wrack, in the glad sudden death of the brave,
Ye are gone to return no more.-Idly our tears arise;
Too proud for praise as ye lie in your unvisited grave,
The wide-warring water, under the starry skies.