The Braes of Ballenden - Bach, Johann Christian

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"A well-known Scottish song arranged by Bach for concert performance by the castrato Giusto Fernando Tenducci (who would have sung it in the higher register). The piece was originally performed by eminent instrumentalists: Johann Christian Fischer (oboe), Wilhelm Cramer (violin), Felice Giardini (viola) and John Crosdill ('cello) with Bach himself at the piano."

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre → Arias ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Mixed ensemble

Pages 21

CPDL # 88098

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2026-01-17

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

Beneath a green shade, a lovely young swain One evening reclined to discover his pain; So sad yet so sweetly he warbled his woe; The wind ceased to breathe and the fountains to flow; Rude winds, with compassion, could hear him complain, Yet Chloe, less gentle, was deaf to his strain. How happy, he cried, my moments once flew, Ere Chloe's bright charms first flashed in my view. These eyes then with pleasure the dawn could survey, Nor smiled the fair morning more cheerful than they: Now scenes of distress please only my sight; I'm tortured in pleasure, and languish in light. Through changes, in vain, relief I pursue, All, all but conspire my griefs to renew; From sunshine to zephyrs and shades we repair; To sunshine we fly from too piercing an air; But love's ardent fever burns always the same, No winter can cool it, no summer inflame. But see, the pale moon, all clouded, retires; The breezes grow cool not Strephon's desires. I fly from the dangers of tempest and wind, Yet nourish the madness that preys on my mind. Ah, wretch! How can life be worthy thy care, Since lengthening moments but lengthens despair.