Sicilian Mariners (Lord I hear) - Anonymous

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"1=For the melody on which this hymn tune is based, see O santissima (Traditional). The tune was published with the text 'O sanctissima', titled 'The Sicilian Mariner's Hymn to the Virgin', in ''The European magazine, and London review'', volume 22, pages 385-386, in November 1792. A comment on the piece was made on page 342 of the same magazine: <blockquote>Wonderful, indeed, is the effect of many voices in unison. A remarkable instance of their effect is mentioned by the ingenious Dr. Burney in his Musical Travels (that entertaining and well-arranged book, which the late Dr. Johnson told his friends he had always an eye to in his voyage to the Hebrides), "Article Venice," where the sensation occasioned by the unison of three thousand voices is described. Travellers all agree in their account of the effects of the simple air called "The Virgin's Hymn," sung in unison by the whole crew of the Sicilian seamen on board their ships when the sun sets, or when it is the twenty-fourth hour of Italy. It is subjoined to the end of the Poetry of this Magazine. ::The words are merely, {{Text|Simple| "O sanctissima! O piissima! dulcis Virgo Maria, mater amata, intemerata, ora pro nobis. "O spotless Virgin, mother dear, "Thou holy pious Virgin hear; "To thee our suppliant lays we pour, "For wretched fallen man implore.""

◈ Genre / Form Hymns

♬ Voicing → SAB ¶ Language → English

Parts 3

Pages 1

CPDL # 11405

Editor Tim Henderson

Posted 2006-04-07

License CPDL License

¶Lyrics / Text

"O sanctissima! O piissima! dulcis Virgo Maria, mater amata, intemerata, ora pro nobis. "O spotless Virgin, mother dear, "Thou holy pious Virgin hear; "To thee our suppliant lays we pour, "For wretched fallen man implore."