On Saturday evening Thomas and I joined with the Walton and Oatlands Choral Society in a performance of Haydn’s Creation. We have, for several weeks, been rehearsing the choruses (of which there are few) but yesterday we were treated to the solo parts – twice – once in the afternoon as we sung through the whole work for the first time and then, of course, for the performance.

I found the exchange between Adam and Eve quite moving and exciting. Not only are the words fantastic but getting to hear them in slow motion to beautifully crafted music was also very special. I liked them so much I started to write them out this mng – but then again I wondered why keep them to myself. I’ve had the score for weeks but never read through it. We have the performance on DVD but always skip the in-between parts because it’s all in German anyway.

After the Chorus sings:

Hail! Bounteous Lord! Almighty, hail!

Thy word call’d forth this wonderous frame,

The heavens and earth thy power adore;

We praise thee now and evermore.

Adam Our duty we have now perform’d,

In offering up to God our thanks,

Now follow me, dear partner of my life,

Thy guide I’ll be; and every step

Pours new delights into our breasts,

Shows wonders everywhere.

Then mayst thou feel and know the high degree

Of bliss the Lord allotted us,

And with devoted heart His bounties celebrate.

Come, follow me, thy guide I’ll be.

Eve O thou for whom I am, my help, my shield,

My all, thy will is law to me;

So God our Lord ordains; and from obedience

Grows my pride and happiness.

Adam Graceful consort, at thy side

Softly fly the golden hours;

Ev’ry moment brings new rapture,

Ev’ry care is lull’d to rest.

Eve Spouse, adored, at thy side

Purest joys o’erflow the heart,

Life and all I have is thine’

My reward thy love shall be.

Both The dew-dropping morn, O how she quickens all!

The coolness of even, O how she all restores!

How grateful is of fruits the savour sweet!

How pleasing is of fragrant bloom the smell!

But, without thee, what is to me

The morning dew, the breath of even,

The sav’ry fruit, the fragrant bloom?

With thee is every joy enhanced,

With thee delight is ever new,

With thee is life incessant bliss,

Thine, thine it all shall be.

Wow – I wish I’d found this when I was 16 years old and trying to find out what marriage was supposed to be all about – I found the wrong stuff and concluded it was all (as Trollope says in one of his Barchester books) ‘tyranny on one side and deceit on the other’ – and therefore to be avoided. I learnt differently from the Evangelical church (kind of ) but nothing compared to the above. If weddings could include the bride and groom singing this stuff they would REALLY be worth going to! Hey ho, the reality of life now doesn’t match up with the ideal (but it’s jolly good to know what the ideal is anyway) but when the new Adam comes to rescue us once and for all and we are united for ever in the new Eden, maybe then we’ll sing it when we shall begin to share together, with our redeemer, what he has bought for us by His blood – never to be spoiled.

My vision of singing with the Heavenly choir was renewed – then, fleetingly, I wondered what it would be like to CONDUCT the heavenly choir – I’m sure it’d blow me away, beside being unnecessary, but they might humour me and let me have a go!