C.E.F. Weyse (1774 - 1842)
Denmark
Lysets engel
for four voices (satb) arranged by Paul Hillier
Theatre of Voices Edition – a selection of fine choral works handpicked by Paul Hillier.
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Lysets engel
C.E.F.
Weyse (1774-1842) was the leading song composer in Denmark during the period known there as the Golden Age. Military losses during the Napoleonic era had encouraged the country to tend more closely to its own affairs, both socially and culturally, and with distinguished results whose benefits are still being felt today.
Weyse composed songs to both Danish and German texts (he was born in Altona in Holsten, then still under the Danish crown), and his style reflects the prevailing early romantic idiom of the day. As a song composer he perhaps found his most personal voice in the two groups of songs (for voice and piano) to words by Bernhard Ingemann (1789-1862): the Morgensange for Børn (Morning Songs for Children) and Syv Aftensange (Seven Evening Songs), published in 1837 and 1838 respectively.
Lysets engel is from the Morgensange and is widely known in Denmark. My choral arrangement, made for Ars Nova Copenhagen and dedicated to my daughter Freya, retains the original piano harmonisation in its first and last verses, while gradually developing and varying ideas from it in the central verses. I am very grateful to James Manley for allowing us to use his excellent English translation. Choirs may want to sing this if they wish to avoid the struggle with Danish, a language whose colour and intonation are difficult for the foreigner to grasp (though no more so than English) — after seven years I am still trying. However, it must be said that the delicacy, transparency and expressive intensity of Ingemann’s verses do repay the effort.
P.H.
Vocal Text
Lysets engel går med glans gennem himmelporte.
For Guds engels strålekrans flygter alle nattens skygger sorte.
Sol går over verden ud med Guds lys i øje: Se! Vor Herres sendebud går på gyldne skyer i det høje.
Englen spreder over jord glansen fra Guds Himmel; i sin kåbes stråleflor favner han alverdens glade vrimmel.
Sol ser ind i slot og vrå, ser på drot og tigger, ser til store, ser til små, kysser barnet, som i vuggen ligger.
Os han også favne vil, englen i det høje; os han også smiler til, englen med Guds Himmelglans i øje.
Os har og vor Herre kær: ingen sjæl han glemmer; i hvert solglimt Gud er nær og vor glade morgensang fornemmer.
B.S. Ingemann
Angel through the gates of light, Passing in thy splendour! Now comfounded, shades of night Must before thy fiery crown surrender!
O’er the world the sun has soared, Light of God unfolding. Lo, the Angel of the Lord Walks on clouds of gold for our beholding!
O’er the earth his radiant gaze Shines on every nation; In his mantle’s gleaming rays Heaven’s light enfolds all glad creation
Lowly hovel, royal hall, Light to none denying, Blessing all, both great and small, Kissing child in cradle sweetly lying.
Us he likewise will enfold In his mantle gleaming, Angel from the realms of gold, Angel with the light of heaven beaming.
Us the loving lord holds dear; In each sunbeam glist’ning To our souls the Lord is near, To our happy morning song is list’ning.
Translation : James Manley
Freya)
C. E. F. Weyse
Morgensange No. 2 (1837) ar r. for SATB Paul Hillier Andante
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Eng
3. O'er len the spreearth der his
glanshines sen on fra eveGuds ry
mel. mel. tion.
ger, ing,
ser blesstil ing stoall, re, both
5. Os 5. Us he han oglikeså wise