The Sleeper, by Edgar Allan Poe

"The Sleeper" is a lyric poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1831, then revised and published again in 1836 and 1845.
In 1991 Peter Hammill composed the rock-opera 'The Fall of the House of Usher' based upon the homonymous tale of Poe. 'The Sleeper' is one of the songs of that awesome opera. In this video i've added some illustrations showing the Sleeping Beauty and Ophelia. So, music and voice by Peter Hammill and words by E.A.Poe.
The lady sleeps. oh, may her sleep
which is enduring so be deep!
Heaven hold her in its sacred keep!
This chamber changed for one more holy,
this bed for one of melancholy.
I pray to God that she may lie
forever with unopened eye
while the dim, sheeted ghosts go by.
My love, she sleeps. Oh, may her sleep
as it is lasting so be deep!
Soft may the worms around her creep!
Far in the forest, dim and old,
now may some tall vault enfold her;
some vault that oft hath flung its black
and winged panels fluttering back
triumphant o'er the crested palls
of her grand family funerals....

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• edgar
• allan
• poe
• peter
• hammill

[Crystalmarc]

Fantastic. I love the opera. Please could you tell me what the last image is please..(The moonlit nude) Thanks, marc

[shivabel]

Oh thank you for this comment, but i have to say i really don't remember the site where i've found this picture. I think it was a blog ,but without any explanation about this image.

[almacattleya]

Sai,la ascolto solo ora con l'audio. La prima volta non potevo e se prima ero incantata da tutti quei dipinti ora sono rimasta intrigata dalla musica e da questa voce così sporca, così espressiva ed affascinante. Grazie infinite.

[shivabel]

Bè, questo è uno dei miei cantanti preferiti ;-) Questo brano fa parte dell'opera-rock 'The Fall of the House of Usher', basato sul racconto di Poe, e Hammill interpreta il protagonista, Roderick Usher. La sua voce in quest'opera è volutamente scabrosa e sepolcrale, ma se ascolti altre canzoni sue ti accorgerai che ha un timbro diverso. Ha comunque una voce unica e inconfondibile. Ho usato un'altra sua canzone nel mio video 'Sabbath'

[leonocusto2009]

"when the lady with her skin so white

like something out of Edgar Allan Poe

holds your hand so very tight

and you hope that she'll never let go"

[shivabel]

Oh...'When she comes', from 'World Record'...You're great! ;-))))

[ralalaralora]

Maravilhoso!!!!!

[theonlyennix]

RESPECT!

[amarys2art]

I like this otherworldly atmosphere...

[6666coco]

Un merveilleux morceau de Peter, pour toi NATHALIE, de la part de Pascal

[Bansheem]

Anche questo, belle atmosfere!!! :)

[ferjota6]

estranho mas muito belo.. strange but beaty...

[Crystalmarc]

Thanks.. Really good work, and nice way to get folks to listen to Hammill! Let me know if you remember what the image is!

[chungafrescor]

Simplemente una obra maestra.