This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Awake, Aeolian lyre
Staff Notation • Secular, Glees
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Awake, Aeolian lyre by John Danby — Lyrics
Awake, Æolian lyre, awake,
And give to rapture all thy trembling strings.
From Helicon's harmonious springs
A thousand rills their mazy progress take:
The laughing flowers, that round them blow,
Drink life and fragrance as they flow.
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About Awake, Aeolian lyre
John Danby's glee for SATB voices, Awake, Aeolian lyre, sets a vivid English text that celebrates the power and beauty of music. The words paint a scene of inspiration flowing from Helicon's springs, bringing life and fragrance to the surrounding landscape. As the music itself is described as winding through verdant vales and then pouring impetuously down steep inclines, the composer captures the dynamic and majestic sweep of the imagery. This piece is a fine example of the glee tradition, a secular genre popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, often characterized by its intricate vocal writing and programmatic nature.
