This edition was prepared by Charles H. Giffen — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A Hymn for St Cecilia
Staff Notation • Sacred, Anthems
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5 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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A Hymn for St Cecilia by Charles H. Giffen — Lyrics
Sing for the morning’s joy, Cecilia, sing,
in words of youth and phrases of the spring.
Walk the bright colonnades by fountains spray
and sing as sunlight fills the waking day.
Till angels, voyaging in upper air,
pause on a wing, and gather the clear sound
into celestial joy, wound and unwound,
a silver chain or golden as your hair.
Sing for your loves of heaven and of earth,
in words of music, and each word a truth,
marriage of heart and longings that aspire,
a bond of roses and a ring of fire.
Your summertime grows short and fades away,
terror must gather to a martyr’s death,
Read full lyrics
About A Hymn for St Cecilia
Charles H. Giffen’s A Hymn for St Cecilia is a sacred anthem for SATB choir, sung in English. This piece evokes the vibrant joy of spring and the morning, with lyrics that speak of youthful exuberance and celestial harmony. The text describes how music ascends to the heavens, captivating angels with its beauty. It then shifts to themes of love, aspiration, and the transient nature of earthly life, ultimately leading to the courage of martyrdom. This anthem would be fitting for occasions celebrating creativity, artistic expression, or the feast day of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music.
