This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Gently touch the warbling lyre
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Gently touch the warbling lyre by Healey Willan — Lyrics
Gently touch the warbling lyre,
Chloe seems inclined to rest,
Fill her soul with fond desire,
Softest notes will soothe her rest,
Pleasing dreams assist in love,
Let them all propitious prove.
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About Gently touch the warbling lyre
This delightful English partsong, for SATB chorus, evokes a scene of idyllic repose. The text paints a picture of Chloe resting on a "verdant velvet bed" of flowers, lulled by gentle zephyrs and soft music. The composer uses the "warbling lyre" as a metaphor for the choir's voice, suggesting that sweet, pleasing notes will aid her dreams and inspire love. It is perfectly suited for moments of lighter programming, perhaps during spring or summer concerts, offering a charming and elegant pastoral scene for a choir to bring to life with delicate phrasing and nuanced dynamics. The music would aim to capture the serene beauty of the natural setting and the gentle unfolding of tender emotions.
