[ti:Seven Part Songs - Assemble All Ye Maidens]
[ar:Imogen Holst/English Chamber Orchestra/The Purcell Singers/Susan Longfield]
[al:Holst: Choral Hymns From The Rig Veda; Savitri; Seven Part-Songs; The Evening Watch]
[by:]
[offset:0]
[00:00.00]Assemble All Ye Maidens - Susan Longfield/The Purcell Singers/English Chamber Orchestra/Imogen Holst
[00:01.23]Written by：Gustav Holst
[00:02.46]Assemble all ye maidens at the door
[00:07.86]And all ye loves assemble far and wide
[00:14.23]Proclaim the bridal that proclaimed before
[00:20.59]Has been deferred to this late eventide
[00:29.21]For on this night the bride
[00:32.61]The days of her betrothal over
[00:36.58]Leaves the parental hearth for evermore
[00:42.22]To night the bride goes forth to meet her lover
[00:54.41]Reach down the wedding vesture that has lain
[00:59.26]Yet all unvisited the silken gown
[01:03.66]Bring out the bracelets and the golden chain
[01:09.00]Her dearer friends provided sere and brown
[01:16.37]Bring out the festal crown
[01:19.61]And set it on her forehead lightly
[01:25.03]Though it be withered twine no wreath again
[01:32.40]This only is the crown she can wear rightly
[01:43.66]Cloak her in ermine for the night is cold
[01:51.10]And wrap her warmly for the night is long
[01:58.03]In pious hands the flaming torches hold
[02:04.95]While her attendants chosen from among
[02:10.37]Her faithful virgin throng
[02:15.05]May lay her in her cedar litter
[02:20.59]Decking her coverlet with sprigs of gold
[02:24.97]Roses and lilies white that best befit her
[02:36.05]Sound flute and tabor that the bridal be
[02:43.56]Not without music nor with these alone
[02:52.02]But let the viol lead the melody
[02:59.57]With lesser intervals and plaintive moan
[03:06.32]Of sinking semitone
[03:11.09]And all in choir the virgin voices
[03:21.76]Rest not from singing in skilled harmony
[03:29.61]The song that aye the bridegroom's ear rejoices
[03:44.30]Let the priests go before arrayed in white
[03:52.78]And let the dark stoled minstrels follow slow
[04:05.45]Next they that bear her honoured on this night
[04:16.10]And then the maidens in a double row
[04:24.14]Each singing soft and low
[04:30.68]And each on high a torch upstaying
[04:43.19]Unto her lover lead her forth with light
[04:52.56]With music and with singing and with praying
[05:07.49]'Twas at this sheltering hour he nightly came
[05:11.36]And found her trusty window open wide
[05:15.26]And knew the signal of the timorous flame
[05:20.87]That long the restless curtain would not hide
[05:24.18]Her form that stood beside
[05:29.90]As scarce she dared to be delighted
[05:34.06]Listening to that sweet tale that is no shame
[05:39.56]To faithful lovers that their hearts have plighted
[05:50.61]But now for many days the dewy grass
[05:55.09]Has shown no markings of his feet at morn
[06:01.40]And watching she has seen no shadow pass
[06:06.54]The moonlit walk and heard no music borne
[06:12.88]Upon her ear forlorn
[06:18.30]In vain she has looked out to greet him
[06:22.94]He has not come he will not come alas
[06:29.40]So let us bear her out where she must meet him
[06:48.42]Now to the river bank the priests are come
[06:57.89]The bark is ready to receive its freight
[07:04.51]Let some prepare her place therein and some
[07:12.86]Embark the litter with its slender weight
[07:19.97]The rest stand by in state
[07:28.36]And sing her a safe passage over
[07:36.98]While she is oared across to her new home
[07:48.82]Into the arms of her expectant lover
[08:01.23]And thou o lover that art on the watch
[08:10.83]Where on the banks of the forgetful streams
[08:22.08]The pale indifferent ghosts wander and snatch
[08:31.80]The sweeter moments of their broken dreams
[08:40.71]Thou when the torchlight gleams
[08:46.34]When thou shalt see the slow procession
[08:54.77]And when thine ears the fitful music catch
[09:04.85]Rejoice for thou art near to thy possession