THE BLUE BIRD (score & parts)

The Blue Bird (Op. 119 No. 3) is a partsong written in 1910 by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) set to the words of L’Oiseau Bleu, a poem by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge (1861-1907). Stanford’s harmonies, lingering moments and the impossibly beautiful unresolved ending perfectly capture Coleridge’s imagery of a freely flying bird as it takes flight over a lake amidst peaceful, natural beauty.

The lake lay blue below the hill.
O’er it, as I looked, there flew
Across the waters, cold and still,
A bird whose wings were palest blue.

The sky above was blue at last,
The sky beneath me blue in blue.
A moment, ere the bird had passed,
It caught his image as he flew.

The Blue Bird was a considerable success during Stanford’s lifetime and enjoys lasting popularity. It was originally written for soprano, divided altos, tenor and bass, with the soprano playing an important role in musically depicting the blue bird. In this arrangement for wind quintet the soprano’s part is played by the flute.

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