This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hymn to Cynthia
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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Hymn to Cynthia by Henry Thomas Smart — Lyrics
Queen and huntress, chaste and fair,
Now the sun is laid to sleep,
Seated in thy silver chair,
State in wonted manner keep:
Hesperus entreats thy light,
Goddess excellently bright.
Earth, let not thy envious shade
Dare itself to interpose;
Cynthia's shining orb was made
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About Hymn to Cynthia
Henry Thomas Smart’s Hymn to Cynthia opens with a sense of hushed anticipation, the SATB voices weaving together to evoke the descent of night. The part-song gracefully captures the spirit of the text, a secular ode to the moon goddess, Cynthia, personifying the fading light and the serene beauty of the evening sky. The music mirrors the lyrical imagery, from the 'silver chair' of the moon to the plea for its 'wishèd sight' to banish the darkness. The composer's setting is characterised by its flowing melodic lines and rich harmonic texture, creating an atmospheric and evocative portrayal of the moon's gentle reign after sunset, a moment of quiet wonder and celestial splendor.
