Cantata per la morte di Beethoven

[lysander]

I love this very beautiful moving and poetic Cantata written by Johann Simon Mayr, 1827. On hearing the death of Beethoven. I would like to share with everyone this chosen verse from it;

Divine poet, your profound genius wrote notes that astonished the world.
Because of you hymns, now a worthier place on theme.
You shall have the Zenith of the firmament.
The thracian poet, with his sweet incantations at the first age conquered the cruel King of Avero.
Now the blessed ones of Eternal Olympus will interrupt their song to listen to you.



[This message has been edited by lysander (edited March 04, 2003).]

[Andrea]

"At Beethoven's Funeral on March 29, 1827" by I.F.Castelli:

Ev'ry tear that is shed by the mourner is holy;
When the dust of the mighty to earth is resigned,
When those he held dearest move sadly and slowly To the grave of the friend in whose heart they were shrined:-

But our grief-stricken train is a wild sea that surges,
That spreads to yon starry pavilion o'erhead
And girdles the globe: for all nature sings dirges,
Where'er rings an echo, to-day o'er the dead.

But weep not for him: for yourselves sorrow only:
Though proud was his place in the hierarchy here,
This earth might not hold him; his spirit was lonely,
And yearned for a home in a loftier sphere.

So Heaven to the minstrel its portals uncloses:
The Muse thither calls him, to sit by her side
And hear, from the throne where in bliss she reposes,
His own hallow'd harmonies float far and wide.

Yet here, in our memories homed, he abideth;
Round his name lives a glory that ne'er may grow dim;
Time fain would o'ertake him, but Time he derideth;
The grisly Destroyer is distanced by him.