Sir Hubert Parry - Blest Pair of Sirens

Blest Pair of Sirens is a short work for choir and orchestra by the English composer Sir Hubert Parry, setting John Milton's ode At a solemn Musick. It was first performed at St James's Hall, London on 17 May 1887, conducted by its dedicatee, Charles Villiers Stanford. Joseph Stevenson of AllMusic writes: "Hubert Parry was one of several important British composers who came to prominence just before Sir Edward Elgar achieved international fame and reversed England's international reputation as a country that did not produce significant music. Parry's Blest Pair of Sirens was premiered in 1887, and was immediately accepted as one of his finest compositions, containing especially excellent melodies. It is based on a famous Milton poem, At a Solemn Music, whose opening lines gave Parry the title; the "blest pair" are the "harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse." The poetic form used by Milton is the Pindaric Ode comprising strophe, antistrophe, and epode. Parry's structure follows this form, delineating them with perfect clarity: The strophe depicts men's hopes, while the antistrophe concerns the human passions and conflicts that might may defeat them. The epode reconciles them by reference to the example of perfect harmony. The choral writing is masterly, using an eight part choir, and the orchestration is rich and noble. Although only ten minutes long, it is one of the finest late-Victorian British choral works, considered by many to be Parry's masterpiece". Musicians are given wittily to dub this piece "best pair of nylons". Personally, I think this piece owes a lot to Bach's "Sheep may safely graze". Text (John Milton) Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav'n's joy, Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse, Wed your divine sounds, and mixed pow'r employ, Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce; And to our high-raised phantasy present That undisturbed song of pure content, Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne To Him that sits thereon, With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee, Where the bright Seraphim in burning row Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow, And the Cherubic host in thousand quires Touch their immortal harps of golden wires, With those just Spirits that wear victorious palms, Hymns devout and holy psalms Singing everlastingly: That we on earth with undiscording voice May rightly answer that melodious noise; As once we did, till disproportioned sin Jarred against nature's chime, and with harsh din Broke the fair music that all creatures made To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed In perfect diapason, whilst they stood In first obedience, and their state of good. O may we soon again renew that song, And keep in tune with Heav'n, till God ere long To His celestial concert us unite, To live with Him, and sing in endless morn of light. Images I took these pictures in various places in the Peak District, Derbyshire, England. Performance From the Album "I Was Glad" - featuring the Sacred Music of Stanford and Parry. It is fabulously performed and recorded. Conductor: Robert King The King's Consort Vivat Label - (p) 2013