This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hard by a Crystal Fountain
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Hard by a Crystal Fountain by Thomas Morley — Lyrics
Hard by a crystal fountain,
Oriana the Bright lay down asleeping.
The birds they finely chirped, the winds were stilled;
sweetly with these accenting the air was filled.
This is that Fair, whose head a crown deserveth,
which Heav'n for her reserveth.
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About Hard by a Crystal Fountain
Thomas Morley's Hard by a Crystal Fountain is a rich example of English madrigal writing for six voices (SSATTB). The music unfolds with intricate interplay between the vocal lines, evoking the pastoral scene described in the text. The composer paints a picture of Oriana sleeping by a fountain, serenaded by birdsong and gentle breezes, a vision of beauty deserving of a heavenly crown. The text, a tribute to Queen Elizabeth I (Oriana), calls on shepherds and nymphs to cease their activities and attend to her, celebrating her as the sustainer of their lives. The piece culminates in a joyous acclamation from the shepherds and nymphs, 'Long live fair Oriana!', highlighting its celebratory nature within the tradition of the 'Triumphs of Oriana'.
