Poem: At a Solemn Music
To His Celestial Consort Us UniteAt a Solemn Music is by the English poet, John Milton (1608-1674). It was first published in his collection, 1645 Poems. The British composer, Hubert Parry's setting of the ode: Blest Pair of Sirens was premiered in 1887 at a concert before Queen Victoria, celebrating her Golden Jubilee. In 2011 it was performed at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. At a Solemn Music is included in the Poems for All Seasons Appendix of the Divine Office (1974). Sung by the Choir of Winchester CathedralAT A SOLEMN MUSIC by John Milton Blest pair of sirens, pledges of heaven's joy,Sphere-born harmonious Sisters, Voice, and Verse,Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce,And to our high-raised phantasy present,That undisturbed song of pure content,Ay sung before the sapphire-coloured throneTo him that sits theronWith saintly shout, and solemn jubilee,Where the bright seraphim in burning rowTheir loud uplifted angel trumpets blow,And the cherubic host in thousand choirsTouch their immortal harps of golden wires, With those just spirits that wear victorious palms,Hymns devout and holy psalmsSinging everlastingly; That we on earth with undiscording voiceMay rightly answer that melodious noise;As once we did, till disproportioned sinJarred against nature's chime, and with harsh dinBroke the fair music that all creatures madeTo their great Lord, whose love their motion swayedIn perfect diapason, whilst they stoodIn first obedience, and their state of good.O may we soon again renew that song,And keep in tune with heaven, till God ere longTo his celestial consort us unite,To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light. Reading