This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
At first the mountain rill
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · James Gibb
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At first the mountain rill by George Alexander Macfarren — Lyrics
At first the mountain rill is weak,
And from its prison scarce can break;
Then each pebble in the way
Seems enough its course to stay.
Spreading as it glides along,
Soon it is a torrent strong;
And its path is broad and free,
As it bounds into the sea.
At first the mountain rill is weak,
But spreading as it glides along,
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About At first the mountain rill
George Alexander Macfarren's partsong At first the mountain rill sets English words that describe the growth of a stream from a weak trickle to a powerful torrent. This transformation is used as a metaphor for the development of love, which often starts imperceptibly but eventually becomes an irresistible force. The SATB voicing allows for rich harmonic and contrapuntal writing, characteristic of the nineteenth-century tradition of English choral music. Macfarren's setting captures the dynamic energy of the text, moving from delicate beginnings to a full, flowing conclusion. This piece is well-suited for a choir looking for a text with a clear narrative and expressive musical arc.
