Händel's Hymn
Oct. 17th, 2006 11:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
franceslievensThe young countertenor wonders how to pronounce a word in his aria. "Do I pronounce the 'y' as in mitten or as in why?"
"You pronounce it 'hymn'," the teacher assures him.
From her place behind the countertenor, the soprano isn't so sure about it all. "It's written all wrong to pronounce that word 'hymn'. It has too many letters. That word is something different all together."
The pianist, born in New Zealand, profides the answer: "That's hy-men! Oh dear, why would Händel write about the hymen. It's... it was considered the most precious thing for a girl." On closer examination she must conclude this piece of music is too sexy for an ordinary oratorio.
Indeed it is:
"You pronounce it 'hymn'," the teacher assures him.
From her place behind the countertenor, the soprano isn't so sure about it all. "It's written all wrong to pronounce that word 'hymn'. It has too many letters. That word is something different all together."
The pianist, born in New Zealand, profides the answer: "That's hy-men! Oh dear, why would Händel write about the hymen. It's... it was considered the most precious thing for a girl." On closer examination she must conclude this piece of music is too sexy for an ordinary oratorio.
Indeed it is:
- Hymen, haste, thy torch prepare,
Love already his has lighted!
One soft sigh has cur'd despair,
And more than my past pains requited.
Hymen, haste...
