# Choral dances from Britten's Gloriana

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choral-dances-from-brittens-gloriana/482580>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 23, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choral-dances-from-brittens-gloriana/482580 "2009-01-23T04:20:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choral-dances-from-brittens-gloriana/482580/1 "2009-01-23T04:20:41Z")

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Can anyone point me to a site that has the lyrics (libretto?) to the choral dances? I was having a conversation with a friend this evening about _Gloriana_. I know that I have, as part of some vocal ensemble, sung at least a couple of the choral dances, and I’m remembering such odd snippets of lyrics. I don’t even know if what I’m remembering is accurate.

HALP!

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**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choral-dances-from-brittens-gloriana/482580/2 "2009-01-23T04:58:08Z")

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We sang the Choral Dances last November. Great fun! I agree that the lyrics are a bit odd at times, especially the women’s “flower” dance and the men’s “rustic” dance.

I don’t know of any site with the lyrics. I have them at home in a CD booklet and will gladly transcribe them for you if you can’t find them elsewhere (they’re not very long). Or you could try googling. I remember that the lyrics start:

> [@](#):
>
> Spirit of the Masque: The masque begins.
> 
> Choir: Melt earth to sea, sea flow to air, and air fly into fire! The elements, at Gloriana’s chair, mingle in tuneful choir…

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**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/choral-dances-from-brittens-gloriana/482580/3 "2009-01-23T11:21:30Z")

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I should think transcribing the whole of the lyrics is against the rules of the board, as they’re still under copyright.