Man, born of desire,
Cometh out of night,
A wandering spark of fire,
A lonely word of eternal thought,
Echoing in chance, and forgot.
[ ... ]
A choral fantasia
Song Cycle by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)
1. Man born of desire  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Authorship:
- by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844 - 1930), no title, appears in Invocation to Music, no. 7, first published 1895
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Holst.
2 omitted by Parry.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. Organ solo
— Tacet —
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3. Rejoice, ye dead  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Rejoice, ye dead, where'er your spirits dwell; Rejoice, that yet on earth your fame is bright, And that your names, remembered day and night, Live on the lips of those who love you well. 'Tis ye that conquered have the powers of hell, Each with the special grace of your delight.1 [Now are ye spherèd and have]2 starry names, Behind the sun ye climb To light the glooms of Time With deathless [fame]3.
Authorship:
- by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844 - 1930), no title, appears in Invocation to Music, no. 8, first published 1895
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Holst inserts here: "Ye are the world's creators, and by might/ Alone of Heavenly love ye did excel."
2 Holst: "Now ye are"
3 Holst: "flames"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
4. Man born of desire  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Man, born of desire, Cometh out of night, A wandering spark of fire, A lonely word of eternal thought, Echoing in chance, and forgot. He seeth the sun, He calleth the stars by name, He saluteth the flowers; [The]1 wonders of land and sea, The mountain towers Of ice and air He seeth, and calleth them fair. Then he hideth his face, Whence he came to pass away, Where all is forgot, Unmade, lost for aye, With the things that are not. He striveth to know, To unravel the Mind That veileth in horror: [He wills to adore. In wisdom he walketh And loveth his kind; His labouring breath Would keep evermore: Then he hideth his face ... He dreameth of beauty. He seeks to create Fairer and fairer]2 To vanquish his fate: No hindrance he, No curse will brook. He maketh a law, No ill shall be; Then he hideth his face, [Whence he came to pass away, Where all is forgot, Unmade, lost for aye, With the things that are not.]1
Authorship:
- by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844 - 1930), no title, appears in Invocation to Music, no. 7, first published 1895
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by Holst.
2 omitted by Parry.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
5. Rejoice, ye dead  [sung text checked 1 time]
Language: English
Rejoice, ye dead, where'er your spirits dwell;
[ ... ]
Authorship:
- by Robert Seymour Bridges (1844 - 1930), no title, appears in Invocation to Music, no. 8, first published 1895
See other settings of this text.
View original text (without footnotes)1 Holst inserts here: "Ye are the world's creators, and by might/ Alone of Heavenly love ye did excel."
2 Holst: "Now ye are"
3 Holst: "flames"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Total word count: 492