Dirge
Benjamin Britten * Track #5 On Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, Op. 31
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Dirge by Benjamin Britten
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Benjamin BrittenAbout
This hair-raising setting of the “Lyke-Wake Dirge” is an object lesson in setting a repetitive poem with many verses. Britten employs a mindlessly keening vocal line as an ostinato, with the strings dancing around it in macabre fashion and the horn entering with a blast.
Dirge Lyrics
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Every nighte and alle
Fire and fleet and candle‑lighte
And Christe receive thy saule
When thou from hence away art past
Every nighte and alle
To Whinny‑muir thou com’st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule
If ever thou gav'st hoes'n and shoon
Every nighte and alle
Sit thee down and put them on;
And Christe receive thy saule
If hoes;n and shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane
Every nighte and alle
The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thy saule
From Whinny‑muir when thou may’st pass
Every nighte and alle
To Brig o’ Dread thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule
From Brig o’ Dread when thou may'st pass
Every nighte and alle
To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last;
And Christe receive thy saule
If ever thou gavest meat or drink
Every nighte and alle
The fire sall never make thee shrink;
And Christe receive thy saule
If meat or drink thou ne’er gav'st nane
Every nighte and alle
The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thy saule
This ae nighte, this ae nighte
Every nighte and alle
Fire and fleet and candle‑lighte
And Christe receive thy saule
Dirge Q&A
Who wrote Dirge's ?
Dirge was written by Benjamin Britten.
When did Benjamin Britten release Dirge?
Benjamin Britten released Dirge on Fri Oct 15 1943.
Is there a live performance of "Dirge" by Benjamin Britten?
Ramon Gabriel Tenefrancia and Daniel Jansen with Gabriel Levy and students from the Manhattan School of Music