Peter Bloesch Listen

Choral ~ Holiday ~ with Keyboard



“All This Night Shrill Chanticleer”

(An original setting of the poem by William Austin)



SOUND CLIP   /   WATCH VIDEO ON VIMEO   /   SCORE SAMPLE

SCORING:  SATB (frequent divisi), acc. by piano

DURATION:  ca. 2:00   —   DIFFICULTY:  3/5   —   PAGES IN PDF SCORE:  14

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DESCRIPTION

In this original setting of the poem by William Austin, I chose to highlight the exuberance in the text. To that end, I created a jaunty piece with interesting rhythms, frequently changing meters, and a joyful, “bouncy” piano part.

In this mystical poem, the “chanticleer” is a rooster who is loudly proclaiming the dawn of a new day, in which Christ is our “Sun” who “shines all night, though day be done.”

TEXT INFO

All This Night Shrill Chanticleer

Words by William Austin (1587-1633)

Complete text:

All this night shrill chanticleer,   ["chanticleer" = a rooster]
Day’s proclaiming trumpeter,
Claps his wings and loudly cries:
Mortals, mortals, wake and rise!
      See a wonder
      Heaven is under!
From the earth is risen a Sun
Shines all night, though day be done.

Wake, O earth, wake everything!
Wake and hear the joy I bring.
Wake and joy, for all this night
Heaven and every twinkling light,
      All amazing,
      Still are gazing.
Angels, powers, and all that be,
Wake, and joy this Sun to see.

Hail, O Sun, O blessèd Light,
Sent into the world by night!
Let thy rays and heavenly powers
Shine in these dark souls of ours.
      For most duly
      Thou art truly
God and man, we do confess.
Hail, O Sun of Righteousness!

Watch video below!