This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Bells across the sea
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Bells across the sea by Walter Cecil Macfarren — Lyrics
Across the sea, across the sea,
Whose mellow music faints and swells,
Along the wind there comes to me
The sound of distant village bells,
Pealing from some dim churchyard grey,
And vocal with its peace are they.
Ring, ring on, O bells,
Sweet sounds ye are to me;
Ring on, O bells,
Across the sea.
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About Bells across the sea
This attractive SATB partsong by Walter Cecil Macfarren would suit a secular concert programme, perhaps for a summer evening concert or as part of a larger set of English songs. The text evokes the evocative sound of distant church bells heard across the sea, suggesting both peace and a wistful reflection on the past. The music likely captures the gentle ebb and flow of the sound, with moments of both tenderness and broader expression. It is a well-crafted example of the English part-song tradition, ideal for a mixed-voice choir seeking lyrical and atmospheric repertoire.
