This edition was prepared by James Crawford — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Anthem For Doomed Youth
Staff Notation • Secular, Art songs
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Anthem For Doomed Youth by James Crawford — Lyrics
ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTHWilfred Owen
What passingbells for these who die as cattle?Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
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About Anthem For Doomed Youth
This arresting setting of Wilfred Owen's powerful anti-war poem captures the raw, unflinching emotion of its text. The composer uses the solo voice to convey the stark imagery and profound grief, moving from the brutal sounds of battle to the quiet, tender gestures of farewell. The music mirrors the progression of the poem, reflecting the contrast between the "monstrous anger of the guns" and the "tenderness of patient minds." It offers a profound and moving reflection on the sacrifice of young soldiers, translating their tragic fate into a compelling musical statement for solo voice. This art song is a poignant and direct musical interpretation of one of the most significant poems of the First World War.
