— Tacet —
Birthday Ode for the Duke of Gloucester
Song Cycle by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695)
1. Overture
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2. Who can from joy refrain, this gay  [sung text checked 1 time]
Who can from joy refrain, this gay, This pleasing, shining, wond’rous day? For tho’ the sun has all His summer’s glories on, This day has brighter splendours far From a little rising star.
Authorship:
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715)
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]3. A Prince of glorious race descended  [sung text checked 1 time]
A Prince of glorious race descended At his happy Birth attended With rosy, smiling hours, to show He will golden days bestow.
Authorship:
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715)
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
4. The Father brave as e’er was Dane  [sung text checked 1 time]
The Father brave as e’er was Dane Whose thund’ring sword has thousands slain And made him o’er half Europe reign.
Authorship:
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715)
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]5. The Graces in his Mother shine  [sung text checked 1 time]
The Graces in his Mother shine Of all the Beauties, Saints and Queens And Martyrs of her line. She’s great, let Fortune smile or frown, Her virtues make all hearts her own: She reigns without a Crown.
Authorship:
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715)
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]6. Sound the Trumpet and beat the warlike Drum  [sung text checked 1 time]
Sound the Trumpet and beat the warlike Drum; The Prince will be with laurels crown’d Before his manhood comes. Ah! how pleas’d he is and gay, When the Trumpet strikes his ear! His hands like shaking lilies play And catch at ev’ry spear.
Authorship:
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715)
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]7. If now he burns with noble flame  [sung text checked 1 time]
If now he burns with noble flame, When grown, what will he do? From Pole to pole he’ll stretch his fame And all the world subdue. Then Thames shall be Queen Of Tyber and Seine, Of Nilus, of Indus, and Ganges: And, without foreign aid, Our fleets be obey’d Wherever the wide ocean ranges.
Authorship:
- by Nahum Tate (1652 - 1715)
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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]