UNDER THE PALMS.
In the cantata, “Under the Palms” (“Captive Judah in Babylon”)—the joint production of George F. Root* and Hezekiah Butterworth, several 301 / 255 of the latter's songs detached themselves, with their music, from the main work, and lingered in choral or solo service in places where the sacred operetta was presented, both in America and England. One of these is an effective solo in deep contralto, with a suggestion of recitative and chant—
By the dark Euphrates' stream,
By the Tigris, sad and lone
I wandered, a captive maid;
And the cruel Assyrian said,
“Awake your harp's sweet tone!”
I had heard of my fathers' glory from the lips of holy men,
And I thought of the land of my fathers; I thought of my fathers' land then.
Another is—
O church of Christ! our blest abode,
Celestial grace is thine.
Thou art the dwelling-place of God,
The gate of joy divine.
Whene'er I come to thee in joy,
Whene'er I come in tears,
Still at the Gate called Beautiful
My risen Lord appears.
—with the chorus—
Where'er for me the sun may set,
Wherever I may dwell,
My heart shall nevermore forget
Thy courts, Immanuel!
* See [page 316].
|
|
