This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Cargoes
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Cargoes by Henry Balfour Gardiner — Lyrics
Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.
Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palmgreen shores,
With a cargo of diamonds,
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About Cargoes
Henry Balfour Gardiner’s setting of John Masefield’s evocative poem Cargoes offers a vivid sonic journey through seafaring history. This SATB partsong, originally conceived for a male-voice choir, contrasts three distinct eras of maritime trade. The first verse conjures ancient times with its mention of a Quinquireme from Ophir, laden with exotic goods. The second verse shifts to the Spanish Main, detailing the riches carried by a galleon. Finally, the poem concludes with a modern British coaster, its cargo of industrial goods a stark contrast to the treasures of antiquity. Gardiner’s music captures the grandeur and narrative arc of the text, making it a compelling choice for a concert programme.
