There is a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, called "The Brook" which my grandmother taught me when I was a small boy. She read it from an old book which I still have on my shelf. It is entitled "Pleasant Hours, A Collection of Stories for the Little Folks." It was published by The Burrows Publishing Company in 1889. I thought I would share this poem with you this week. It is most fitting for the beginning of Summer.
One of my major interests is music. As part of that interest, I have begun a collection of old hymn and song books. I recently picked up an old book published in 1867 by Mason Brothers. The book is entitled "The Temple Choir," and was compiled for choirs, singing schools, and social circles by Theodore F. Seward. He was assisted in this endeavour by Lowell Mason and Wm. B. Bradbury.
One of the songs in that old book is Tennyson's "The Brook." Seward set the poem to music. That is the music you hear playing in the background. That's assuming your computer is set up to hear music played automatically. I had never heard this poem sung and, I thought you might enjoy trying it. Simply sing along with the music that is playing. I hope you can pick out the melody from the 4-part harmony.
Copyright © Jay D Weaver - June 24, 2002
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| Old Book Cover |
I chatter over stony ways, in little sharps and trebles;
I bubble into eddying bays, I babble on the pebbles.
With many a curve my banks I fret, by many a field and fallow,
And many a fairy foreland set with willow-weed and mallow.
I chatter, chatter as I flow to join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.
I wind about and in and out, with here and there a blossom sailing;
And here and there a rusty trout, and here and there a grayling.
And here and there a foamy flake upon me, as I travel
With many a silvery water-break above the golden gravel.
And draw them all along and flow to join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.
- Alfred Lord Tennyson.