This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hark, jolly shepherds
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Hark, jolly shepherds by Joseph W. G. Hathaway — Lyrics
Hark, jolly shepherds,
hark, yon lusty ringing;
How cheerfully the bells dance,
the whilst the lads are springing:
Go then, why sit ye here delaying?
And all your merry wanton lasses playing?
How gaily Flora treads it,
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About Hark, jolly shepherds
A vibrant and joyful SATB setting of a 1594 English text, Hark, jolly shepherds is a secular part-song perfect for a festive occasion. The music opens with a sense of lively anticipation, mirroring the text's celebration of rural merriment and the ringing of bells. The choir is urged to join the festivities, leaving any idleness behind. The composer captures the exuberance of the scene, with the woods and groves echoing with sweet, rebounding sounds, creating a delightful soundscape that would grace any spring or summer concert programme. The text expresses a delightful, almost boisterous, call to join in the revelry.
