This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Beside the ungathered rice he lay
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Beside the ungathered rice he lay by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor — Lyrics
Beside the ungathered rice He lay,
His sickle in his hand;
His breast was bare, his matted hair
Was buried in the sand.
Again, in the mist and shadow of sleep,
He saw his native land.
Wide through the landscape of his dreams
The lordly Niger flowed;
Beneath the palmtrees on the plain
Once more a king he strode;
And heard the tinkling caravans
Descend the mountainroad.
He saw once more his darkeyed queen
Among her children stand;
They clasped his neck, they kissed his cheeks,
They held him by the hand!—
A tear burst from the sleeper’s lids
And fell into the sand.
And then at furious speed he rode
Along the Niger’s bank;
His bridlereins were golden chains,
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About Beside the ungathered rice he lay
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s SATB partsong Beside the ungathered rice he lay evokes a vivid dream of homecoming and regal status. The English text paints a poignant picture of a man resting by his fields, his mind transported to his native land, the Niger, where he walks as a king among his people and embraces his queen and children. The music would suit a concert programme, perhaps during a season that reflects on journeys or heritage. Coleridge-Taylor’s settings of W. E. Henley’s poems are known for their passionate and evocative qualities, and this piece offers a rich opportunity for expressive choral singing.
