This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Going away
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Going away by John Liptrot Hatton — Lyrics
O, gaily the banners wave o'er the town!
The bright sabres flashing! The black cannons frown!
The bugles are sounding, Drums beating afar!
While calling our sons to the ranks of the war.
But still 'mid this glory, so gallant and gay,
All our belov'd ones are going away.
Bugles sounding, Drums are beating,
Going away!
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About Going away
John Liptrot Hatton's Going Away for ATTB voices opens with a martial fanfare, quickly giving way to the poignant reality of departure. The composer uses the English text to evoke the stark contrast between the outward show of military glory and the profound sorrow of loved ones leaving home. The four-part texture allows for a rich harmonic palette, mirroring the complex emotions of farewell. As the piece progresses, the insistent rhythms of bugles and drums underscore the inevitability of this going away, creating a powerful and moving expression of parting. This secular partsong captures a universal human experience with dignity and depth.
