This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
’Twas fancy & the ocean’s spray
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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’Twas fancy & the ocean’s spray by George Alexander Osborne — Lyrics
As sadly o’er the rippling wave
I wandered once at daylight’s close,
Where crested billows toss and lave
The giant rocks in calm repose,
Methought the sound of music sweet,
From distance borne, came o’er the main,
Which ever and anon would meet
My ears, then softly die again.
Alas! ’twas fancy led the way,
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About ’Twas fancy & the ocean’s spray
As the composer wanders sadly by the sea at twilight, he hears a distant music that fades in and out. He soon realizes this is not real sound but his own imagination, conjured by the ocean spray. The text speaks of elusive dreams and the deceptive beauty of nature, suggesting that what seems real might only be a fleeting fancy. George Alexander Osborne sets this evocative English text for SATB choir, capturing the melancholic yet beautiful imagery of a solitary experience by the sea. This secular part-song explores themes of perception and the ephemeral nature of our thoughts and surroundings, creating a reflective atmosphere through its musical setting.
