ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT  - 4m18s

Sleep my dear and peace attend thee, all through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee, all through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, hill and vale in slumber sleeping
And I my loving vigil keeping, all through the night

While the moon her watch is keeping, all through the night
And while the weary world is sleeping, all through the night
O’er thy spirit, gently stealing, visions of delight revealing
breathes a pure and holy feeling, all through the night

Hark a solemn bell is ringing, all through the night
And thou my love are heav’nward winging home through the night
Earthly dust from off thee shaken, soul immortal shalt thou waken
With thy last dim journey taken, home through the night

         Traditional

This ancient Welsh folk song, Ar Hyd y Nos was first published under that name by Bardd y Brenin (Edward Jones) in Musical Relicks of the Welsh Bards(1784). Many different versions of the English lyrics exist. In the version chosen here they describe the loss of a loved one.

 I attempt to counterpoint the sorrow expressed in the lyrics with an element of hope within the music. The song starts with what appears to be an old, scratched recording of a brass band playing the melody. As the music fades the song begins with piano and voice only. As the words progress and the sadness of the situation becomes evident the ‘band’ becomes ‘real’ again and provides an accompaniment. The song ends with a trumpet solo which soars over the underlying melody, hopefully conveying an impression of hope and beauty.

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