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Poem by Robert Southwell
ROBERT SOUTHWELL (1561-1595)
To Niels Nilson
THE BURNING BABE
for Chorus (S.A.T.B.)
BRAXTON BLAKE (1997)
=80-86 con molto rubato Bass As solo I in hoa ry win ter’s night Stood shive ring in the snow Sur
5 And, (tutti) lift ing up a rehearsal only for
pris’d I was with sud den heat, Which made my heart to glow; And, tutti lift ing up a
fear ful eye To view what fire was near, A pret ty Babe all burn ing bright Did
fear ful eye To view what fire was near, A pret ty Babe all burn ing bright Did
=80-86 con molto rubato Copyright © 2013 Braxton Blake
Tenor Alto
Soprano
Who scorch éd with ex ces sive heat, Such floods of tears did
Who scorch éd with ex ces sive heat, Such floods of tears did
in the air ap pear; Such floods of tears did
in the air ap pear;
shed As though his floods should quench his flames, Which with his tears were
shed As though his floods should quench his flames, Which with his tears were
shed As though his floods should quench his flames, Which with his tears were
fed. “A las” (quoth he) “but new ly born, in fie ry heats I fry, Yet
fed. “A las” (quoth he) “but new ly born, in fie ry heats I fry, Yet
fed. “A las” (quoth he) “but new ly born, in fie ry heats I fry, Yet
“A las” (quoth he) “but new ly born, in fie ry heats I fry, Yet
none ap proach to 30 warm their hearts, Or feel my fire, but I. My fault less breast the
none ap proach to warm their hearts, Or feel my fire, but I. My fault less breast the
none ap proach to warm their hearts, Or feel my fire, but I. My fault less breast the
none ap proach to warm their hearts, Or feel my fire, but I. My fault less breast the
fur nace is; The fuel, wound ing thorns; Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, The
fur nace is; The fuel, wound ing thorns; Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, The
fur nace is; The fuel, wound ing thorns; Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, The
fur nace is; The fuel, wound ing thorns; Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, The
ash es, shame and 40 scorns. The fuel Jus tice lay eth on, And Mer cy
ash es, shame and scorns. The fuel Jus tice lay eth on, And Mer cy
ash es, shame and scorns. The fuel Jus tice lay eth on, And Mer cy
ash es, shame and scorns. The fuel Jus tice lay eth on, And Mer cy
48
blows the coals, The me tal in this fur nace wrought Are men’s de fil èd
blows the coals, The me tal in this fur nace wrought Are men’s de fil èd
blows the coals, The me tal in this fur nace wrought Are men’s de fil èd
blows the coals, The me tal in this fur nace wrought Are men’s de fil èd
souls; For which, as now on 50 fire I am To work them to their
souls; For which, as now on fire I am To work them to their
souls; For which, as now on fire I am To work them to their
souls; For which, as now on fire I am To work them to their
good, So will I melt in to a bath To wash them in my
With this he va nished out of sight, good, So will I melt in to a bath To wash them in my good, So will I melt in to a bath To wash them in my good, So will I melt in to a bath To wash them in my
blood.”
blood.”
blood.”
With this he va nished out of sight,
With this he va nished out of sight,
blood.” With solo this he va nished out of sight, And
blood.”
With this he va nished out of sight,
B.
A.
And swift ly shrunk a way, And
straight rit. I cal led un to mind =40 molto rit.
That it was Christ mas Day. And swift ly shrunk a way, And swift ly shrunk a way, And straight I cal led And swift ly shrunk a way, And And swift ly shrunk a way, And
straight I cal led un to mind
That it was Christ mas Day.
straight I cal led un to mind
That it was Christ mas Day.
straight I cal led un to mind
That it was Christ mas Day. un to mind That it was Christ mas Day.
rit. =40 molto rit.