Sweetest bard that ever sung (William Boyce)

From ChoralWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Music files

L E G E N D Disclaimer How to download
ICON SOURCE
Network.png Web Page
File details.gif File details
Question.gif Help
  • (Posted 2022-07-11)  CPDL #69977:  Network.png
Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-07-11).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 537 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA
Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: Sweetest bard that ever sung
Composer: William Boyce
Lyricist: David Garrick
Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Solo high
Genre: SecularAria

Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo violin obbligato

First published: 1759
Description: "Sung by Miss Young, as one of the Muses, to the statue of Shakespear", in Harlequin's Invasion, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Boyce's most enduring piece written for that pantomime was the patriotic song "Hearts of oak". Garrick's bardolatry was to come to full flower in his Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford on Avon, 1769.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Sweetest bard that ever sung,
Nature's glory, Fancy's child;
Ever may thy magic tongue
Warble thy sweet woodnotes wild.
Bring the laurel, bring the flow'rs,
Lead the dance's mystic maze.
He united all our pow'rs;
All united sing his praise.

Round his statue's hollow'd base,
Elves and fairies sport and play;
Ev'ry Muse and ev'ry Grace
Ever here keep holiday.
Bring the laurel, bring the flow'rs,
Lead the dance's mystic maze.
He united all our pow'rs;
All united sing his praise.