The Song of Wandering Aengus
SSA choral/piano score
PEL2011-Choir and Piano
Instrumental part
PEL2011-IP
A WORK FOR SSA CHOIR AND PIANO WITH OPTIONAL ORGAN OR SYNTH PADS
"The Song of Wandering Aengus" is a setting of W. B. Yeats’ beautiful poem “The Golden Apples of the Sun”, with a traditional Irish melody forming the basis of this lyrical arrangement. Halley has surrounded the melody with lush harmonies to give a very magical and romantic feel to this lovely, poetic story.
In honor of Brendan Gill (1914 - 1997)
Video
Texts
The Song Of Wandering Aengus
Words: William Butler Yeats (1865 - 1939)
Music: Traditional Irish, arranged by Paul Halley (1952 - )
I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And mothlike stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.
Reviews
"For harried souls in troubled times, “Untraveled Worlds” CD offers a room with a panoramic view of images beckoning from beyond the scope of everyday experience.” - Jennifer Kolmes, The American Organist magazine
