Hark! the convent bells are ringing (John Liptrot Hatton)

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• (Posted 2023-10-25)  CPDL #76644:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-10-25).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 383 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

• (Posted 2019-09-20)  CPDL #55387:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2019-09-20).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 112 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Hark! the convent bells are ringing
Composer: John Liptrot Hatton
Lyricist: Thomas Haynes Bayly

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard

Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1873 in Novello's Part-Song Book (2nd series), Vol. 6, no. 214
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

1  Hark! the convent bells are ringing,
And the nuns are sweetly singing;
Holy Virgin, hear our prayer!
See, the novice comes to sever
Every worldly tie for ever;
Take, oh take her to your care!
Still radiant gems are shining,
Her jet-black locks entwining;
And her robes, around her flowing,
With many tints are glowing,
But all earthly rays are dim.
Splendours brighter now invite her,
While thus we sing our vesper hymn.
Holy Virgin, hear our prayer!
Take, oh take her to your care!

2  Now the lovely maid is kneeling,
With uplifted eyes appealing;
Holy Virgin, hear our prayer!
See, the abbess, bending o'er her,
Breathes the sacred vow before her;
Take, oh take her to your care!
Her form no more possesses
Those dark, luxuriant tresses.
The solemn words are spoken,
Each earthly tie is broken,
And all earthly joys are dim.
Splendours brighter now invite her,
While thus we sing our vesper hymn.
Holy Virgin, hear our prayer!
Take, oh take her to your care!