This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
English Beauty
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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English Beauty by William Spark — Lyrics
CANTATA I
ON ENGLISH BEAUTY
When Beauty’s goddess from the ocean sprung,
Ascending, o’er the waves, she cast a smile
On fair Britannia’s happy isle,
And rais’d her tuneful voice, and thus she sung:
“Hail, Britannia! hail to thee,
Fairest island of the sea!
Thou my favourite land shalt be.
Cyprus, too, shall own my sway,
And dedicate to me its groves;
Yet Venus and her train of Loves
Will with happier Britain stay.
Hail, Britannia! hail to thee,
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About English Beauty
William Spark's English Beauty opens with a direct, declamatory statement, immediately establishing a sense of grandeur. This SATB setting of an English text draws on classical mythology, presenting Venus, the goddess of beauty, as she surveys and claims Britannia as her favoured land. The music reflects this theme of national pride and aesthetic admiration, with soaring melodic lines and rich vocal harmonies. The text's celebration of 'fair Britannia' and its eventual rapturous welcome to the goddess offers a powerful, uplifting message, making this an engaging choice for a choral programme seeking music of both substantial expression and broad appeal.
