To soothe my fond bosom (Thomas Billington)

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• (Posted 2022-11-05)  CPDL #71427: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-11-05).   Score information: A4, 2 pages, 184 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download.

General Information

Title: To soothe my fond bosom
Composer: Thomas Billington
Lyricist: Thomas Haweis
Number of voices: 2vv   Voicing: SS
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard

First published: c.1780 (n/d)
Description: From "Eight canzonets peculiarly adapted for ladies: with an accompanyment for the Piano Forte or Harp", Londo. The text is taken from Haweis' libretto for an oratorio, Ruth, but has been secularized by substituting Boaz by Strephon. Haweis was an influential member of The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, and is buried in Bath Abbey.

Original text and translations

English text

To soothe my fond bosom, awake my soft lute,
In silence no longer remain;
Nor deaf to my sorrows sad Echo be mute,
But mournfully double the strain.
Go whisper, zephyrs, for Strephon I mourn,
And waken his heart to an equal return.