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Carol Barnett
Carol Barnett (Beady Eyes)
On the Setting up Mr. Butler’s Monument in Westminster Abbey (from Epigrams, Epitaphs)
An ironic musical epigram to an almost-great poet
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The Lady Who Offers Her Looking-Glass to Venus
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My Own Epitaph
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Epitaph of Two Piping-Bullfinches of Lady Ossory’s, Buried under a Rose-Bush in her Garden
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On My First Son
SATB, 4-hand piano
Samuel Wesley’s “On the Setting up Mr. Butler’s Monument in Westminster Abbey” comments ironically on the proposed placement of a monument to poet Samuel Butler (1613-1680) in Westminster Abbey. Despite being the author of a much-celebrated poem, he died a pauper and a servant—his burial and the monument were paid for by others. Great bells in the accompaniment and mournfully solemn melodic lines ostentatiously immortalize a poet who never quite achieved financial security and independence while alive.
Composer’s Notes
Epigrams, Epitaphs was written for the Grand Rapids Area Community Chorus. Director James Clarke wanted a companion piece to Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes, hence the piano four-hand accompaniment.
– Carol Barnett
Text
On the Setting up Mr. Butler’s Monument in
Westminster Abbey
While Butler, needy wretch! Was yet alive,
No gen’rous patron would a dinner give:
See him, when starved to death and turned to dust,
Presented with a monumental bust!
The poet’s fate is here in emblem shown:
He asked for bread, and he received a stone.
– Samuel Wesley (1691-1739)
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