I caught this morning morning’s minion, kingdom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dáwn-drawn Falcon, in his riding Of the rólling level úndernéath him steady áir, and stríding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird,—the achieve of; the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wónder of it: shéer plód makes plóugh down síllion Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear, Fall, gáll themsélves, and gásh góld-vermílion.
“The Windhover,” considered by Gerard Manley Hopkins himself to be his greatest poetic achievement, is an ecstatic meditation on the poet’s observation of a kestrel in flight called “windhover” because of its ability to fly at the same speed as the opposing wind and therefore to hover without moving.
In this poem, Hopkins’ vision as a nature mystic and his vision as a Christian mystic are equally operative. He sees in the bird’s struggle with the wind both the revelation of its own essential nature (“inscape”) and an emblem for Christ’s revelation, whose essence was most fully revealed in being utterly opposed by all forces, eternal and temporal.
After waxing über ecstatically about Christ’s illumined being “a billion times told lovelier” than the magnificent kestrel the poet steps back and notes that this is simply the way of all things in being opposed, each thing’s essential nature is laid bare.
No wónder of it: shéer plód makes plóugh down síllion Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear, Fall, gáll themsélves, and gásh góld-vermílion.
The metal plough, rusty after a winter of idleness, begins to shine again after breaking new ground. The gray coals of a dying fire suddenly reveal their glowing orange centers when a piece of ash falls away.
There is vastness of scope in Hopkins’ poem, and the musical setting attempts to reflect the myriad landscapes that Hopkins traverses in one short poem. Singers may imagine themselves more an orchestra than a choir, as successive sections suggest shifting timbres.
One image may help the poem’s final, miraculous phrase come to livelier life in the singer’s mind: “and blue bleak embers…fall, gall themselves, and gash gold vermilion.” The music is reflective of large forces, though fire coals themselves are small and still. But anyone who has leaned close to a dying fire knows the absolute intensity of heat that the coals retain. So, I imagined a magnification where the falling coals are not small, but towering, like huge chunks of glacier falling mightily into the ocean. Such is the punch that Hopkins’ poem packs, and one attempts to do justice with music.
With stately motion h = 63-69
pp
pp rid
pp murmuring ing-oftherolling-air,
pp rid
murmuring ing-oftherolling- air,
I
mp cantabile caughtthismorning-morning's-
mp cantabile caughtthismorning-morning'sI
pp rid
pp murmuring ing-oftherolling-air,
pp murmuring ing-oftherolling-air, riding-ofthe
riding-oftherolling-air, riding-oftherolling-air,
riding-oftherolling-air, riding-ofthe
minion,- king dom-ofdaylight's- dauph-in.
minion,- king dom-ofdaylight's- dauph-in.
riding-oftherolling-air,
rolling-air, riding-oftherolling-air,
caughtthismorning-morning's- minion,- king dom-ofdaylight's-
caughtthismorning-morning's- minion,- king dom-ofdaylight's-
ing-oftherolling-air, rolling-air,
riding-oftherolling-air,
ing-oftherolling-air, riding-oftherolling-air,
ing-oftherolling-air, riding-ofthe
ebbing slightly now flowing14
únder-néath-himsteady-áir, and
p striding-
únder-néath-himsteady-áir, and
p stridingúnder-néath-himsteady-áir, in hisriding-in
p hisriding-in hisrid
in
p hisriding-oftherólling-level-únder-néath-himsteady- áir,
p hisriding-oftherólling-level-únder-néath-himsteady- áir,
pp
pp in
in
p hisriding-oftherólling-únder-néath-himsteady- áir,áir,
pp
pp ing of
p therolling-of theroll ing
high
mp gathering strength, little by little there,howherungupon-thereinofawim pling wing...
high
mp gathering strength, little by little there,howherungupon-thereinofawim pling wing... up
p on-therein, up
mp on-therein ing up
p on-therein, up
mp on-therein how
mf he how
mf he how
p herung how
mp herung how
p herung how
mp herung how
mf herung
mf herung how
in
f hisecsta-sy!- inhis
in
f hisecsta-sy!- inhis up
mf on-therein, upon-therein, ofof awimpling-winginhis up
mf on-therein, upon-therein, of awimpling-winginhis
rungupon-therein inhis ecsta-sy!- ...ofawimpling-winginhis
rungupon-therein inhis ecsta-sy!- ...ofawimpling-winginhis
how herung up on-therein, of awimpling-winginhis how herung up on-therein, of awimpling-winginhis
ecsta-sy!-then
sub. mf off,forth,onswing,
ecsta-sy!-then
sub. mf off,offforth,onswing, off,forth,onswing,
ecsta-sy!-then
sub. mf off, off,offforth,onswing,
ecsta-sy!-then
sub. mf off, onswing,
ecsta-sy!- off,
mf forth,onswing,
ecsta-sy!- off,
mf offforth,onswing, off,
mp forth,on
ecsta-sy!- off
mf forth, off,
mp offforth,onswing, ecsta-sy!- off
mf forth, off
mp forth, on
off
mp askate'sheelsweepssmoothonabowben d,-
as
mp askate'sheelsweepssmoothonabowben d,-
as
p
skate'sheelsweepssmooth
onabowbend:
p forth,onswing,skate'sheelsweepssmooth
p
onabowbend:
p askate'sheelsweepssmooth
as
swing, as
p askate'sheelsweepssmooth
skate's
p heelsweepssmooth
swing, skate's
p heelsweepssmooth
ebbing again
A tempo
p hurl
the
poco a poco cresc. andgliding-rebuffed- thebig
onabow
the
p hurl
poco a poco cresc. andgliding-rebuffed- thebig the
p hurlandgliding,the
p hurlandgliding,-
poco rit. bend:- the
onabow
mp
poco rit. bend:- the
mp
onabow
poco rit. bend:- the
p hurlandgliding,onabow
poco rit. bend:- the
p hurlandgliding,-
wind.
poco accel.40 wind. the
mf hurl
the
cresc. andgliding-re-
mf hurl
cresc. andgliding-rethe
mp hurlandgliding,- the
mf hurlandgliding,- the
mp hurlandgliding,- the
cresc. hurlandgliding,the
mf hurlandgliding,- the
cresc. hurlandgliding,-
hurl
poco a poco cresc. andgliding- rebuffed- thebig wind. hurl
poco a poco cresc. andgliding- rebuffed- thebig wind. the
mp hurlandgliding,- the
mf hurlandgliding,- the
mf hurlandgliding,- the
f hurland
f hurland thehurlandgliding,- the
allarg. A tempo
ff
buffed thebig wind.
ff
buffed thebig wind.
re
f buffed- thebig wind.
re
My
f heartinhiding- stirred
f heartinhiding- stirred
My
ff my
mf heartinhid-
f buffed- thebig wind
ff my
mf heartinhid-
ff
re
f buffed- thebig wind.
ff
re
f buffed- thebig wind.
gliding,-rebuffed-the wind.
My
f heartinhiding- stirred
f heartinhiding- stirred
My
ff mf gliding,-rebuffed-the wind.
ff mf
poco allarg.
forabird theachieve
f -of, themaster-y ofthething!
forabird theachieve
f -of, themaster-y ofthething!
ing, theachieve- of, themast'ry-ofthething!
ing, theachieve- of, themast'ry-ofthething!
forforabirdtheachieve
f -of, themaster-y ofthething!
forforabirdtheachieve
f -of, themaster-y ofthething!
myheartin hid ing, themast'ry-ofthething! myheartin hid ing, themast'ry-ofthething!
Brute
h
p misterioso beauty-andvalour-andact,
phrase by phrase
Brute
p beauty-and
Brute
p misterioso beauty-andvalour-andact,
Brute
p misterioso beauty-andvalour-andact,
Brute
p beauty-and
Brute
p beauty-and
Brute
pp misterioso beauty-andvalour-andact,
Brute
pp misterioso beauty-andvalour-andact,
Brute
pp misterioso beauty-andvalour-andact,
valour-and act,
valour-and act,
mp oh,air,pride, plume,oh, air,
mf pride, plume, here
mp oh,air,pride, plume,oh, air,
mf pride, air,pride,plume,here
valour-and act, oh,
mp air,pride,plume,
Brute
p beauty-andvalour-andact, oh,
mf air,pride, plume, here
Brute
p beauty-andvalour-andact, oh,
mf air,pride,air,pride,plume,here
Brute
p beauty-andvalour-and act,
66 buck
f le!- herebuckle!- AND the
buck
f le!- herebuckle!- AND the buck
f le!- buckle!- AND the here
f le!- herebuckle!- AND the buck
mf buck
f le!- herebuckle!- AND the buck
f le!- herebuckle!- AND the buck
mf buck
f le!- herebuck le!-buck-AND the
f le!- buckle!- AND the here
fire
thatbreaksfromtheethen, the
fire
thatbreaksfromtheethen, the
thefire thatbreaksfromthee
ff thefire thatbreaksfromthee
fire
ff thatbreaksfromtheethen, the
fire
fire
thatbreaksfromtheethen, the
ff thefire thatbreaksfromthee
fire
fire
thefire thatbreaksfromthee
poco rit. 74
fire thatbreaksfromtheethen,
fire thatbreaksfromtheethen, then, fire
the
mf espress. fire thatbreaksfromthee
f thatbreaksfromtheethen, that
espress. breaksfromthee then, fire thatbreaksfromtheethen,
fire thatbreaksfromtheethen, the
mf fire thatbreaks,a
mp espress.
fire thatbreaksfromtheethen, the
mf fire thatbreaks,a
mp espress. then, fire
mp espress. then, fire thatbreaksfromtheethen, (n)
f thatbreaksfromtheethen, a
Slightly slower than before 80 a
pp breaksfromtheethen, a
mp
then,
mp espress. billion-timestoldloveli-er,-a
then,
pp a
mp espress. billion-timestoldloveli-er,-a mm
pp a
mp
billion-timestoldloveli-er,-
abillion-timesmoredanger-ous,-
billion-timestoldloveli-er,-
billion-timeslovelier,-
abillion-timesmoredanger-ous,-
abillion-timesmoredanger-ous,-
mp billion-timesdanger-ous,-
a
billion-timesmoredanger-ous,-O
Omy cheva-lier!-
billion-timesmoredanger-ous,-O
Omycheva-lier,-mycheva
billion-timesmoredanger-ous,-Omycheva-lier!-
Omycheva-lier,-mycheva billion-timesdanger-ous,-
cheva
No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine, and
molto espress. bluebleak-
lier! No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine, and
molto espress. bluebleak-
lier! No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine,
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine,
No
No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine,
ppp
No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine,blue,
lier! No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine, lier! No
p wonder-ofit; shéerplód makesplóughdown-síllion- shine,
101
embers,- ahmydear,
embers,- ahmydear, blue,
ppp p fall,
espress. [and]
blue
p bleak -em
pp bers, -ah
p mydear,
pp fall,
p bleak -em
p blue
pp bers, -ah
p mydear
pp fall,
p and
molto espress. bluebleak-embers,-ah mydear, and
molto espress. bluebleak-embers,-ah mydear,
p bleak -em
blue
pp bers, -ah
p mydear,
pp
blue
p bleak -em
pp bers, -ah
p mydear
pp
f Poco a poco più mosso 105
p floating themsélves,- gáll
gáll
mp themselves,- gáll
gáll
mp themsélves,- fall
mp [and]gáll
gállthemsélves,- gáll
mp themsélves,-
gállthemsélves,- gáll
mp themsélves,-
f
mf themsélves,- gáll
fall
gáll
p floating themsélves,-
mf themselves,-
gáll
p [and] gáll
mp themsélves,- gáll
f themsélves,
fall
p [and] gáll
mp themsélves,- gáll
p gáll
mp themsélves,- gáll
mf themsélves,-
mf themsélves,fall,
themsélves,- and
Tempo primo109 themsélves,- and
ff gásh goldver-míl- ion,- gásh goldver-mil-ion,-
ff gásh goldver-míl- ion,- gásh goldver-mil-ion,-
f themsélves, and
gáll
f gáshgoldver- míl
f themsélves, and
ff -ion,- andgáshgoldvergáll
f gáshgoldver- míl
ff -ion,- andgáshgoldverand
ff gásh goldver-míl-ion,- gásh goldver and
ff gásh goldver-míl-ion,- gásh goldver
f themsélves,- and
gáll
f gáshgoldver- míl
ff -ion,- andgáshgoldver- míl
f themsélves,- and
f gáshgoldver- míl
ff -ion,- andgáshgoldver- míl
ff -ion,-
ff -ion,gáll
114
gásh goldver- mil- ion,- fall,
f gállthemsélves- and...
gásh goldver- mil- ion,- fall,
f gállthemsélves- and...
míl
ff ion,- andgáshgoldver- míl- ion,míl
ff ion,- andgáshgoldver- míl- lion,-
mílion,- fall,
f fall, gállthemsélves- and mílion,- fall, gállthemsélves- and... andgáshgoldver- míl
f ion,- fall,gállthemsélves-and andgáshgoldver- míl
f ion,- fall,gállthemsélves-and
rit.
gásh gold ver míl
vibrant p ion.
gásh gold ver míl
vibrant p ion.
gáshgoldver míl
vibrant p ion.
gáshgoldver míl
vibrant p ion.
gáshgold– goldver- míl
vibrant p ion.
gáshgold– goldver- míl
vibrant p ion.
gásh
f gold– goldver- míl
vibrant p ion.
f gold– goldver- míl
gásh
vibrant p ion.