This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Dear harp of my country
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs, Folk songs
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Dear harp of my country — Lyrics
Dear Harp of my Country! in darkness I found thee,
The cold chain of silence had hung o’er thee long;*
When proudly, my own Island Harp, I unbound thee
And gave all thy chords to light, freedom and song!
The warm lay of love and the light note of gladness
Have waken’d thy fondest, thy liveliest thrill;
But so oft hast thou echo’d the deep sigh of sadness,
That e’en in thy mirth it will steal from thee still.
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About Dear harp of my country
This setting for SATB voices, sung in English, takes a traditional folk song as its source. The music begins by reflecting the gentle, perhaps melancholic, mood of the opening words, with voices weaving together to suggest the harp's 'cold chain of silence'. As the song progresses, the texture opens up to express the joy and freedom of 'light, freedom and song', with brighter harmonies and a more expansive feel. Yet, as the text acknowledges, the echo of past sadness remains, and the composer subtly retains a touch of pathos within the more joyful moments. The piece concludes with a sense of dignified farewell, a poignant contemplation of legacy and inspiration.
