This edition was prepared by Jon Corelis — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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La Belle Dame Sans Merci by Jon Corelis — Lyrics
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
O what can ail thee, knightatarms,
Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge has withered from the lake,
And no birds sing.
O what can ail thee, knightatarms,
So haggard and so woebegone?
The squirrel’s granary is full,
And the harvest’s done.
I see a lily on thy brow,
With anguish moist and feverdew,
And on thy cheeks a fading rose
Fast withereth too.
I met a lady in the meads,
Full beautiful—a faery’s child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.
I made a garland for her head,
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
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About La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Jon Corelis sets John Keats’s ballad La Belle Dame Sans Merci for SA voices in English. The poem recounts a knight’s encounter with a mysterious faery lady, whose enchantment leaves him abandoned and desolate. Corelis captures the narrative's atmosphere of romantic obsession and melancholic beauty. The SA voicing allows for a clear and expressive delivery of the text, ideal for showcasing the haunting story of the knight and his elusive muse. This secular partsong is suited for choirs seeking to explore poignant lyrical themes and evocative musical settings.
