O Happy fair or The Loadstars

This lovely trio is a curiously "out of context" setting by William Shield of words from Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
In Shield's setting the three voices simply admire a beautiful woman, in enticing harmonies - a fine piece of music deservedly part of the repertoire of vocal trios everywhere; but in the play the words form part of a speech of jealousy between childhood friends and the potential end of that friendship:

The scene in Shakespeare's original:
The fairy world - in the form of Puck - has interfered most clumsily with the passions of the human world, with the result that human lovers are confused in their loves: Demetrius, Helena's lover, now loves her friend Hermia, who doesn't love him, and he ignores Helena, who loves him but is already becoming somewhat insecure about the powers of her feminine attraction. Helena is therefore jealous of Hermia's beauty:

HERMIA God speed fair Helena! whither away?

HELENA Call you me fair? that fair again unsay. Demetrius loves your fair: O happy fair! Your eyes are lode-stars; and your tongue's sweet air More tuneable than lark to shepherd's ear, When wheat is green, when hawthorn buds appear. Sickness is catching: O, were favour so, Yours would I catch, fair Hermia, ere I go; My ear should catch your voice, my eye your eye, My tongue should catch your tongue's sweet melody. Were the world mine, Demetrius being bated, The rest I'd give to be to you translated. O, teach me how you look, and with what art You sway the motion of Demetrius' heart.

HERMIA I frown upon him, yet he loves me still.

HELENA O that your frowns would teach my smiles such skill!

HERMIA I give him curses, yet he gives me love.

HELENA O that my prayers could such affection move!

HERMIA The more I hate, the more he follows me.

HELENA The more I love, the more he hateth me.

HERMIA His folly, Helena, is no fault of mine.

HELENA None, but your beauty: would that fault were mine!

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The original setting by Shield was for two sopranos and bass - the performance here is transposed for two altos and bass.
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The images used are Washington Allston's painting of Hermia and Helena and portraits of Shakespeare and Shield.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• loadstars
• lodestars
• happy fair
• william shield
• trio
• multitracking
• choral
• midsummer night's dream
• shakespeare
• helena
• hermia
• dwschorale
• countertenor

[mradaChris]

Very lovely piece!

chris

[JoeFielding72]

My friend. This is pure enjoyment. I am enjoying this very much. You are a lavishing singer and guitar player who is a Star that I enjoy listening and watching your magnificent videos. I can not wait to enjoy more of them. This is a new favorite. God bless you and your family.