Music for a while, Z 583/2 (Henry Purcell)

From ChoralWiki

Music files

L E G E N D Disclaimer How to download
ICON SOURCE
Icon_pdf.gif Pdf
Icon_snd.gif Midi
MusicXML.png MusicXML
Finale_2014_icon.png Finale 2014
Network.png Web Page
File details.gif File details
Question.gif Help
  • (Posted 2021-10-15)  CPDL #66217:         
Editor: Wim Looyestijn (submitted 2021-10-15).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 166 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Transposed down to e-minor.
  • (Posted 2019-09-10)  CPDL #55307:       
Editor: Simon Shaw (submitted 2019-09-10).   Score information: A4, 6 pages, 400 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Arrangement in Gm for SATB and optional keyboard (and cello) continuo accompaniment - see second score.
  • (Posted 2009-11-06)  CPDL #20364:     
Editor: Giuseppe Schinaia (submitted 2009-10-18).   Score information: A4 (landscape), 5 pages, 168 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Contributed by Marie Ange.
  • (Posted 2008-03-18)  CPDL #16379:  Network.png
Editor: William Long (submitted 2008-03-18).   Score information: Letter, 4 pages, 100 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes: Transposed from C minor to A minor.

General Information

Title: Music for a while
Composer: Henry Purcell
Lyricist: John Dryden

Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Soprano solo, or SATB
Genre: SecularAria

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo realized for keyboard, guitar, or baroque guitar

First published: 1692
Description: From the incidental music for Oedipus. Published separately in Orpheus Britannica, book 2 (1702).

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Music for a while,
Shall all your Cares beguile,
Wond'ring how your Pains were eas'd,
And disdaining to be pleas'd,
Till Alecto free the Dead,
From their Eternal Band;
Till the Snakes drop from her Head;
and the Whip from out her Hand.

Dutch.png Dutch translation

Muziek zal een tijdlang
al je zorgen verdrijven.
Je vraagt je af hoe je pijn is verzacht
en je geeft niet om voldoening.
Tot Alecto de doden bevrijdt
van hun eeuwige banden,
tot de slangen van haar hoofd vallen
en de zweep uit haar handen glipt.