This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Chelsea
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
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Chelsea by Abijah Forbush — Lyrics
On Sight of a Corpse.
1. Ah lovely appearance of death!
No sight upon earth is so fair;
Not all the gay pageants that breathe
Can with a dead body compare:
With solemn delight I survey
The corpse when the spirit is fled,
In love with the beautiful clay,
And longing to lie in its stead.
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About Chelsea
Abijah Forbush's Chelsea is a sacred anthem for SATB choir, set to an English text. The composer reflects on death, exploring its 'lovely appearance' and finding a profound beauty in the cessation of life and the release from worldly burdens. The lyrics ponder the state of the departed soul, free from the struggles of earthly existence and sin. Forbush's setting captures this contemplative and somewhat unconventional meditation on mortality, offering a unique perspective on the finality of life and the peace that may follow. The SATB voicing allows for rich harmonic exploration of these solemn yet serene themes.
