This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hymn to Diana
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Hymn to Diana by Arnold Duncan Culley — Lyrics
Queen and huntress, chaste and fair,
Now the sun is laid to sleep,
Seated in thy silver chair,
State in wonted manner keep:
Hesperus entreats thy light,
Goddess excellently bright.
Earth, let not thy envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;
Cynthia’s shining orb was made
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About Hymn to Diana
This SATB setting of Ben Jonson's Hymn to Diana evokes a sense of quiet anticipation as twilight deepens. The choir conjures the image of the goddess of the hunt, Diana, taking her place in the heavens as day gives way to night. The text describes her serene presence and the clarity she brings to the darkness, requesting her benevolent gaze upon the earth. It continues to implore her to set aside her hunting accoutrements and allow even the swiftest creatures a moment's respite. This is a richly textured secular part-song, suitable for occasions when a choir wishes to celebrate the beauty of the natural world and the celestial sphere.
