She Walks in Beauty (ow. 11)
For bass-baritone and trombone trio – duration: 5′
She Walks in Beauty is a musical setting of the quintessential romantic poem by George Gordon Byron, better known as Lord Byron. The piece has been written for the wedding of two of my dear friends, Sjoerd and Judith, and has been played during their wedding ceremony.
The piece premiered on the 21st of September 2024. It was sung by Matthijs Schelvis, the trombone trio was an ad hoc trio of friends of the groom.
The text is as follows:
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!