The light of life (Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens)
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- Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2019-08-14). Score information: A4, 9 pages, 132 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Transposed down a semitone from original key.
- Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2019-08-14). Score information: A4, 10 pages, 134 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Original key.
General Information
Title: The light of life
Composer: Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens
Lyricist: William Duthie
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella Includes a keyboard reduction of the a cappella choral score.
First published: 1872 in Novello's Part-Song Book (2nd series), Vol. 5, no. 164
Description:
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
1 O, light of life! thou vivid spark,
Which dartest forth thy fitful ray,
When round about us, close and dark,
Our worldly troubles stand at bay.
Thou com'st, perchance, as tiny flower,
Or bird, or note, or snowy flake,
Or cheerful word in dullest hour,
And dost a very glory make.
2 O, happy heart! that can rejoice
In simple efforts to be glad;
And hear sweet sounds in ev'ry voice
As if it silent music had.
Laughter, a sigh, a snatch of song,
Lightning a cloud in dappled heav'n,
A hundred things the live-day long,
As chords of joy to thee are giv'n.
3 O light of life! 'tis ours to warm
Thy little spark into a blaze;
That from our hearts the darkling storm
May redden in the joyful rays.
From glorious sky to murky ground,
In ev'ry hue, and shade, and line,
Unnumbered flashes gleam around,
If our dull eyes would see them shine.