This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Break, Break, Break
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Break, Break, Break by Edward B. Birge — Lyrics
Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
O, well for the fisherman’s boy,
That he shouts with his sister at play!
O, well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay!
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About Break, Break, Break
Edward B. Birge’s SATB setting of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem Break, Break, Break offers a poignant reflection on loss and the longing for what has passed. This evocative secular part-song, sung in English, captures the melancholic mood of the original text. The music mirrors the ebb and flow of the ocean waves, providing a somber backdrop to the poet's contemplation of lost joys. The choir’s voices can convey the deep emotion of the text, contrasting the simple happiness of others with the profound sense of absence experienced by the speaker. It is a thoughtful choice for a concert programme, allowing for expressive vocal performance.
