This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
’Tis believ’d that this harp
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs, Folk songs
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’Tis believ’d that this harp — Lyrics
’Tis believed that this Harp, which I wake now for thee
Was a Syren of old, who sung under the sea;
And who often, at eve, through the bright billows roved,
To meet, on the green shore, a youth whom she loved.
But she loved him in vain, for he left her to weep,
And in tears, all the night, her gold ringlets to steep,
Till heaven look’d with pity on truelove so warm,
And changed to this soft Harp the seamaiden’s form.
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About ’Tis believ’d that this harp
This arrangement of ’Tis believ’d that this harp comes from a folk tradition, showcasing a touching narrative about transformation and lost love. The text tells the tale of a sea-siren who, spurned by her earthly love, weeps inconsolably. Moved by her plight, the heavens transform her into a harp, so that her beauty and sorrow are forever preserved in its form and strings. This SATB setting in English allows the choir to explore the poignancy of the lyrics, evoking the mythic origins and emotional depth of the story. The part-song format is ideal for conveying the melancholic yet beautiful imagery of the original tale.
