Blest Pair of Sirens (1886) - C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918)

Harvard University Choir
Edward Elwyn Jones, conductor
David von Behren, organ

from May 11, 2025 Service
Harvard Memorial Church
Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav’n’s joy,
Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse,
Wed your divine sounds, and mixed pow’r employ,
Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce;
And to our high-raised phantasy present
That undisturbed song of pure content,
Aye sung before the sapphire-colored throne
To Him that sits thereon,
With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee,
Where the bright Seraphim in burning row
Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow,
And the Cherubic host in thousand quires
Touch their immortal harps of golden wires,
With those just Spirits that wear victorious palms,
Hymns devout and holy psalms
Singing everlastingly:
That we on earth with undiscording voice
May rightly answer that melodious noise;
As once we did, till disproportioned sin
Jarred against nature’s chime, and with harsh din
Broke the fair music that all creatures made
To their great Lord,
whose love their motion swayed
In perfect diapason, whilst they stood
In first obedience, and their state of good.
O may we soon again renew that song,
And keep in tune with Heav’n, till God ere long
To His celestial concert us unite,
To live with Him,
and sing in endless morn of light.

-John Milton (1608–1674)