This edition was prepared by Ian Haslam — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hymn to Manas
Staff Notation • Secular
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Hymn to Manas by Gustav Holst — Lyrics
O thou who hast fled away to join the ranks of those that lie within the abode of Death.
We call thee back to dwell with us again.
O thou who hast fled away o’er lofty mountain peaks, across the billows of the sea.
We call thee back to dwell with us again.
O thou who has fled away beyond the earth and sky to live within the splendour of the sun.
We call thee back to dwell with us again.
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About Hymn to Manas
Gustav Holst's Hymn to Manas is a powerful secular work for TTBB male voices. The English text paints a vivid scene of a spiritual entity, Manas, who has journeyed far beyond the earthly realm, traversing mountains, seas, and even the sun, to inhabit the abode of Death and the unknown. The repeated refrain, 'We call thee back to dwell with us again,' creates a compelling sense of yearning and entreaty. The music would likely reflect the vastness of the journey described in the text, with moments of solemnity and soaring climaxes as the voices implore Manas's return to the human sphere.
