In a vale closed with woodland (William Jackson of Exeter)
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- (Posted 2022-04-14) CPDL #68854:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-04-14). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 631 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.
General Information
Title: In a vale closed with woodland
Composer: William Jackson of Exeter
Lyricist: William Shenstone
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: ATB
Genre: Secular, Glee
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo
First published: 1762 Op. 3
Description: In his frontispiece, Jackson specified performance in the following terms: "I would just observe, that the following pieces will lose their effect, when the parts are doubled. The manner of performance that I would recommend, is by three voices singing moderately soft, and accompanied with any bass instrument that may have the effect of an accompaniment only; for nothing hurts a piece so much, as making a part principal, or even equal with others, when it was intended to be subservient. The equality of strength among the voices should also be observed; if one voice of the three be strong, and the others weak, it is necessary to soften it down, that the balance may not be destroyed; for it should always be remembered, that as no principal part was intended, there must be none produced".
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
In a vale clos'd with woodland, where grottos abound,
And rivulets murmur, and echoes resound,
I vow'd to the Muses my time and my care;
Since neither could win me the smiles of my fair.
As freedom inspir'd me, I rang'd and I sung;
And Daphne's dear name never fell from my tongue.
But if a smooth accent delighted my ear,
I should wish, unawares, that my Daphne might hear.
With fairest ideas my bosom I stor'd,
To drive from my heart the fair nymph I ador'd;
But the more I with study my fancy refin'd,
The deeper impression she made on my mind.
Ah! whilst I the beauties of nature pursue,
I still must my Daphne's fair image renew:
The Graces have chosen with Daphne to rove,
And the Muses are all in alliance with Love.