The Lost Chord

As one will of course expect, the reading of the two for the end of this past week that most caught my attention was "The Lost Chord."  This reference to the wonderful Sullivan song was quite apt for the article Temperley presented.  However, I will focus on the actual work itself.

"The Lost Chord" was a song composed by Sir Arthur Sullivan in 1877, and was an emotionally charged work.  Composed at the bedside of his brother Fred (it would be his deathbed), the song became an instant hit.  A brief word on Fred Sullivan:  he was apparently a very talented performer.  He was in the original production of Thespis, the very first collaboration of Gilbert and Sullivan, and was the original Learned Judge in their second collaboration, Trial by Jury.  Fred was apparently supposed to be the title character in The Sorcerer, which opened in November of 1877.  However, poor Fred died on January 18, just five days after the date on the manuscript to "The Lost Chord".  Which brings us back to the song.

"The Lost Chord" is a setting of lyrics by Adelaide A. Proctor, and tells of the power of music.  The lyrics are:

"Seated one day at the organ,
I was weary and ill at ease,
And my fingers wandered idly
Over the noisy keys;
I know not what I was playing
Or what I was dreaming then,
But I struck one chord of music,
Like the sound of a great Amen,
Like the sound of a great Amen.

It flooded the crimson twilight,
Like the close of an Angel's Psalm,
And it lay on my fever'd spirit,
With a touch of infinite calm,

It quieted pain and sorrow,
Like love overcoming strife,
It seem'd the harmonious echo
From our discordant life.
It link'd all perplexed meanings,
Into one perfect peace,
And trembled away into silence,
As if it were loth to cease;

I have sought but I seek it vainly,
That one lost chord divine,
Which came from the soul of the organ,
And enter'd into mine.

It may be that Death's bright Angel,
Will speak in that chord again;
It may be that only in Heav'n,
I shall hear that grand Amen.
It may be that Death's bright Angel,
Will speak in that chord again;
It may be that only in Heav'n,
I shall hear that grand Amen."

One can see the appeal of this work to a man in Sullivan's position, watching his brother fade before his eyes.  The beauty of the song can be heard in this 1888 (yes, the year is right) recording, making it one of the first musical recordings of all time (it is just the tune, but still...it's 1888!!):

http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/other_sullivan/html/recordings/Lost%20Chord.mp3

 and the full song in these various recordings from youtube:

John McCormack - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdh0lbIj-Bw

Enrico Caruso - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdh0lbIj-Bw

   *I must admit, his English is actually much better than I expected!!! (MUCH better than Pavarotti's was)

Nelson Eddie - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKKi0vsGDNM

I hope you all enjoy!!