Dirge from the Consecration of the Soldier's Cemetery

from Memories From Gettysburg by Jeff Greenawalt

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about

Alfred Delaney wrote this dirge in 1863 for use during the consecration of the Gettysburg Soldier's Cemetery on November 19, 1863. President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address during this ceremony.

lyrics

O! It is great for our country to die, whose ranks are contending,
Bright is the wreath of our fame; glory awaits us for aye;
Glory, that never is dim, shining on with a light never ending;
Glory, that never shall fade, never O! never away!

O! it is sweet for our country to die, how softly reposes
Warrior youth on his bier, wet by the tears of his love,
Wet by a mother's warm tears; they crown him in garlands of roses,
Weep, and then joyously turn, bright where he triumphs above.

Not in Elysian Fields, by the still oblivious river,
Not in the isles of the blest, over the blue rolling sea;
But on Olympian heights shall dwell the devoted forever;
There shall assemble the good, there the wise, valiant, and free.

O! then how great for our country to die, in the front ranks to perish,
Firm with our breast to the foe, victory's shout in our ear;
Long they our statues shall crown, in songs our memory cherish;
We shall look forth from our heaven, pleased the sweet music to hear.

credits

from Memories From Gettysburg, released June 17, 2022
This recording was made using some orchestral samples recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
The Library of Congress provided the original sheet music I used to make this arrangement.

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all rights reserved

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Jeff Greenawalt Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Three of my great passions are acting, music, and history. Being retired from a real job gives me the time to pursue them full-time. I managed to combine all three through performing living history and period music. My under-graduate degree is in theater arts. While pursuing a career in health care administration, I managed to also study guitar and voice. I hope you enjoy the result! ... more

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