Where does the uttered Music go?

for unaccompanied mixed voices

General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Composition:
1945–6

First Performance:
26 April 1946. BBC Chorus, Theatre Revue Chorus, Leslie Woodgate conductor. St. Sepulchre's Church, Holborn, London. The unveiling ceremony of a memorial stained-glass window in honor of Sir Henry Wood.

Duration:
About 6 minutes

Text:
John Masefield (1878–1967)
Click here for complete text.

Tempo:
Slow  [92 m.]

Dedication:
The manuscript, but not the published score, is headed: "For the Sir Henry Wood Memorial Fund"

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C52

Performing Forces:

Mixed chorus (SATB, with extensive divisi).

Manuscript:

Royal Academy of Music. Manuscript 320. Autograph vocal score. Presented as a gift from Walton to Lady Wood, who then bequeathed it to the Royal Academy of Music.

Publication:

Oxford University Press, 1947. Vocal score, 1947, 019 3437619 (discontinued).

Oxford University Press. Edited by Timothy Brown. William Walton Edition, Volume 6, "Shorter Choral Works without Orchestra", 1999, 019 3594323. Vocal score, 019 3594358.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Vocal score]
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: William Walton Edition, Volume 6]

Recordings:

Chorus Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Richard Marlow 1988 Conifer CDCF 164 6'36"
The Bach Choir Sir David Willcocks 1991 Chandos CHAN 8998 5'54"
The Finzi Singers Paul Spicer 1992 Chandos CHAN 9222 6'08"
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1992 Nimbus NI 5364 5'12"
Schola Cantorum of Oxford Mark Shepherd 1998 Guild GMCD 7139 5'37"
Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge Christopher Robinson 2001 Naxos 8.555793 6'17"
Polyphony Stephen Layton 2002 Hyperion CDA67330 6'08"

 

Text:

                    Sir Henry Wood

Where does the uttered Music go?
When well-attempered mind and hand
Have made the mortal clay to glow
And separate spirits understand?

Ah, whither goes the boon,
The joy, that sweeps the wilful sense
Into the planetary tune
Of sun-directed influence?

What is this creature, Music, save the Art,
The Rhythm that the planets journey by?
The living Sun-Ray entering the heart,
Touching the Life with that which cannot die?

This Man with Music touched our minds
With rapture from the shining ranks,
The Loves and Laws of unknown kinds
Who utter everlasting thanks.

All that he uttered, may remain
As Light, as Order, cleaving Space,
Within the emptiness, a gain,
Within the solitude, a grace.

O Mortals, praise him, for his hand
Brought to his brothers many a ray
From Light perceived, though never scanned,
From Law unknown, which all obey.

                        — John Masefield (1878–1967)

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Choral Music