This edition was prepared by Aaron Giles — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Autumn
Staff Notation • Secular
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3 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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Autumn by Daniel Belknap — Lyrics
Samuel Johnson: Autumn: An Ode (parts)
2. 'Twas spring, 'twas summer, all was gay;
Now autumn bends a cloudy brow;
The flowers of spring are swept away,
And summerfruits desert the bough.
9. O! what remains, what lingers yet,
To cheer me in the darkening hour?
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About Autumn
Daniel Belknap's setting of Samuel Johnson's Ode, Autumn, presents a reflection on the changing seasons. The text contrasts the fading beauty of spring and summer with the arrival of autumn, acknowledging the departure of flowers and fruits. However, the poem finds solace and continued joy in the grape, a symbol of wit, love, and mirth. The music likely captures this shift from melancholy to spirited celebration, as the lyrics move towards the 'jocund strain' and the 'vigorous rapture' associated with friendship and wine. Scored for SATB voices in English, this secular work offers a rich harmonic and textual exploration of late-season pleasures and companionship.
