’Tis believ’d that this harp (Michael William Balfe)

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• (Posted 2024-01-15)  CPDL #78749:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2024-01-15).   Score information: Letter, 12 pages, 533 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: ’Tis believ’d that this harp
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: Michael William Balfe
Lyricist: Thomas Moore
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong

Language: English
Instruments: Piano

First published: 1859 J. Alfred Novello
Description: THE ORIGIN OF THE HARP

AIR: GAGE FANE

Original text and translations

English text

’Tis believed that this Harp, which I wake now for thee
Was a Syren of old, who sung under the sea;
And who often, at eve, through the bright billows roved,
To meet, on the green shore, a youth whom she loved.

But she loved him in vain, for he left her to weep,
And in tears, all the night, her gold ringlets to steep,
Till heaven look’d with pity on true-love so warm,
And changed to this soft Harp the sea-maiden’s form.

Still her bosom rose fair - still her cheeks smiled the same
While her sea-beauties gracefully curl’d round the frame;
And her hair, shedding tear-drops from all its bright rings
Fell over her white arm, to make the gold strings!°

Hence it came, that this soft Harp so long hath been known
Still to mingle Love’s language with Sorrow’s sad tone;
Till thou didst divide them, and teach the fond lay
To speak love when I’m near thee, and grief when away.