"Alpha, the Beginning, Omega, the Ending,
The First and the Last and the Ever-Living One!
Your face is as bright as the sun in the morning,
Your eyes are as bright as the rays of the sun.
"As old as the winter, as young as the springtime,
As kind as the summer, as wise as the fall,
You bring from our winter the new life of springtime,
You bring from your dying the life of us all."
This Christian song of praise was originally written in Gaelic, as a litany calling our Lord by many beautiful names, and parts of the English version are direct translations from Irish:
"O Star of the Evening, O Star of the Morning,
O Star of the Noonday, as bright as the Sun!"
The first verse of the Gaelic version is given on the last page, after the music.
The song is written for one harp and two voices: soprano and alto, two sopranos, or two altos. (I have also heard it sung by male voices, to beautiful effect.) Both the melody and harmony are moderate enough in range to be sung by either soprano or alto except for the optional obligato in verse 4, where the harmony rises above the melody and goes up to F, 11 notes above Middle C. The alto and soprano vocalists can exchange parts for this verse if desired. The harp accompaniment is easy enough so the harpist can play and sing at the same time.
The sheet music is four pages, 8½" x 11" (all music), printed on ivory paper. It includes words (five English verses plus the Gaelic verse), melody for two voices, and arrangement for the lever harp (also suitable for pedal harp). A new copy from the distributor. The missing stave lines are on the scan only, not on the music!
PLEASE NOTE that these copies are marked down (from $3.25) because of a minor typo which does not affect the music and will be corrected in ink in your copy.
This beautiful song is very suitable for Easter Sunday, or for any other church or Christian occasion.
See our other auctions for more harp books and sheet music: Valkyrie Publications carries four music books, one instruction book, and over 70 pieces of sheet music for the harp, and many of them are listed in our auctions and eBay store. You can also find the books on half.com or follow the "Me" link to our website, where some of the can be heard.
Please add $1.90 postage for your order of ANY size from Valkyrie Publications: combine postage and we will pay any extra. Your order will be sent USPS Book Rate or First Class, depending on its weight.
Happy bidding and harping!!
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