Sweeter than songs of Summer (John Frederick Bridge)

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• (Posted 2021-03-04)  CPDL #63306:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2021-03-04).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 168 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Sweeter than songs of Summer
Composer: John Frederick Bridge
Lyricist: William St Hill Bourne

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol for Christmas

Language: English
Instruments: Organ

First published: 1866 The Musical Times no.276
    2nd published: 1898 Novello's Christmas Carols
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

1  Sweeter than songs of Summer,
The time of blossom and bird,
The wonderful midnight music,
In the flowerless winter heard:
Pleasant the notes from far lands,
But gladder than all they bring,
The song of the Winter Angels,
It's news of a Holy Spring.

2  It tells of a little tired One,
Laid in a maiden's breast,
Who calls to the heavy laden,
"Come, I will give you rest;
See, I am meek and lowly,
Hasten to learn of Me,
And, deep in the midst of labour,
The peace of your souls shall be."

3  O borthers, hearken the music,
Listen to what it sings;
He is come to lift your spirits,
To give them dovelike wings;
Aye, wings of the singing Angels,
At the appointed time,
To lead you, gathered around Him,
Into His own fair clime.

4  Above the storm and the tempest,
Out of the wintry days,
Over the death-dark waters,
Guided by unknown ways,
To the ever-summer country
Of glory, goodwill, and peace;
Where the King is in His beauty,
And the singing does not cease.