Thou palsied earth (John Wall Callcott)
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- Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2009-02-23). Score information: A4, 6 pages, 56 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: Dynamics may have been added by Horsley. Mezzo forte indications are editorial.
General Information
Title: Thou palsied earth
Composer: John Wall Callcott
Lyricist: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: SSB
Genre: Sacred, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella (originally). Piano accompaniment added by William Horsley (1774-1858).
First published: 1824
Description: A 3 part sacred glee. A late work unpublished at the composer's death.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Thou palsied Earth, with noon-day night o'erspread,
Thou sick’ning Sun, so dark, so deep, so red!
Ye hov’ring ghosts, that throng the star-less air,
Why shakes the Earth, why fades the light? declare!
Are those his limbs with ruthless scourges torn,
His brows all bleeding with the twisted thorn?
His the pale form, the meek, forgiving eye,
Rais’d from the cross in patient agony?
- Be dark, thou Sun - thou noonday night, arise!
And hide, oh hide, the dreadful sacrifice!