"The Festival of the Flowers" (1893) A Cantata for Floral and Anniversary Occassions. Words by Clara Louise [Root] Burnham. Music by George Frederick Root, 1820-1895. C H A R A C T E R S Rose ................................... Soprano Hollyhock .............................. Soprano Chrysanthemum ........................ Contralto Lily ................................. Contralto Violet ........................... Speaking Part Mignonett......................... Speaking Part Buttercup ........................ Speaking Part Sem-Chorus of Violets. Chorus of Garden Flowers and Wild Flowers. ================= Each child should be decorated with the flower he or she represents. The Chrysanthemum may, if it is convenient, wear a Japanese costume; but this is not necessary. The Hollyhock should be arrayed to look as quaint and old fashioned as possible; and should carry a reticule or small bag on her arm. The platform should be decorated with plants and flowers. If a curtain is used the children should be discovered when it rises. If it is inconvenient to have a curtain, the children may march on while the introduction is being played. Let speakers and singers stand well in front and give the words so that they will be heard by the entire audience. Those who are not accustomed to speak before are almost never heard by all. They think they are speaking loudly and distinctly enough when they are not. Great attention should be paid to this, as the success of the Cantata depends much upon its words being understood. --<== C O N T E N T S ==>-- No. 1 Introduction 2 Chorus ....................... Come to us, breathe on us 3 Song (Rose) .................. Little songsters floating o'er us 4 Song (Chrysanthemum) ......... Wherever there is warmth and light 5 Song (Hollyhock) ............. In olden times 6 Chorus ....................... In summer, when the days were fair 7 Semi-Chorus (Violets) ........ We love mother earth 8 {Trio (Hollyhock, Lily,} { and Chrysanthemum) } ..... In palaces grand 9 Song (Rose) .................. When we were young 10 Chorus ....................... The flower cups are swinging 11 Duet ......................... O stop, soft breezes 12 Chorus ....................... Here they come rollicking 13 Song (Chrysanthemum) ......... There's a still sweet voice 14 Chorus and Obligato (Rose) ... Now with hearts full of joy THE FESTIVAL OF THE FLOWERS. -------->><<---------- ====================== No. 1. INTRODUCTION. ================================== No. 2. COME TO US, BREATH ON US. Chorus. Come to us, breathe on us, Gently pass over us. Wind from the South that caressingly blows; Bend to us, beckon us, Kissing and greeting us, Welcome the South wind, each flower that grows. Rough are the winds from the North and the East, Shiver the blossoms that bo 'neath the blast; Clouds are their messengers, Moan the trees drearily Till the dread play of the storm-god is past. Low in the East with the thunderheads frolicking, Flushes the lightning, bright chain upon chain; Hide we our little heads Low in the flowerbeds, While in a tempest of tears falls the rain. Out comes the sun at last, Warning and cheering us, Down fall its beams in a show'r from above; Slowly each flower-face Lifts to its dear embrace, Once again held in the safe arms of love. Come to us, breathe on us, Gently pass over us. Wind from the South that caressingly blows; Bend to us, beckon us, Kissing and greeting us, Welcome the South wind, each flower that grows. ROSE.---Yes, the storm is past, and when the sun comes out it always seems as though it could never again be clouded. Here we are, the friendly dwellers in one garden, and all awake at once, which does not often happen. Let us have a little festival of thanksgiving. What blessings are ours, brothers and sisters. What a beautiful world it is! What a happy thing it is to live. How we must thank our Father every morning and evening that he created us! =========================================== No. 3. LITTLE SONGSTERS FLOATING O'er US. Song. Rose. Little songsters floating o'er us, Poised on airy, lightsome wing, Pause a moment in the treetops, Teach the flowers how to sing. How to sing the joy that fills us In this crystal fragrant air, For our hearts are filled to bursting With a rapture we would share, For our hearts are filled to bursting With a rapture we would share. Graceful butterflies, swift flitting, Where you born on stems like ours, Did your petals change to pinions Just for joy of summer hours? Were your wings clipped in the sunlight That they wear such golden hue? Gently kiss us, lovely cousins, There's a tie 'twixt us---and you. We are only little flowers, But we grow 'neath God's dear hand, And he sends us daily blessings, While we beautify the land. Warmth of sun and cooling showers, Birds and butterflies and bees, Let out fragrant breath send incense Thro' the world on ev'ry breeze, Let out fragrant breath send incense Thro' the world on ev'ry breeze. [CHORUS] Oh, yes, send incense, fragrant incense, Thro' the world on ev'ry breeze. ROSE (_speaks_). Yes, every day is a festival for us. CHRYSANTHEMUM. Do you think so? Now it seems to me the wind is more often from the east than from the south. In fact (_shaking her head_) life is full of trials. ROSE. What! For the popular and fashionable Chrysanthemum? You suprise me! CHRYSANTHEMUM (_pouting_). Yes it is. To be sure I _am_ fashionable and I _am_ popular. (_With the last syllable of "popular" the piano should touch the C with which the next song begins and Chrysanthemum should go right on with her song, connecting closely with the spoken words_). =========================================== No. 4. WHEREVER THERE IS WARMTH AND LIGHT. Song. Chrysanthemum. Wherever there is warmth there is light And merry voices hum, Wherever there is gaiety, I'm there---chrysanthemum; No festival can be complete Among the rich and great, Unless chrysanthemum shines there In all her lovely state. They bind me round with ribbon fine, I hang from ev'ry wall, I deck the tables' glitt'ring show, I glow in lofty hall; Above proud hearts I cling, and lie in lovely maidens' hair; And white hands carry me around, Their gaiety to share, Their gaiety to share. [CHORUS] And white hands carry her around, Their gaiety to share. CHRYSANTHEMUM. I know this is all true, and yet--- LILY. Yet what? CHRYSANTHEMUM. I have my troubles. Why, you would all be jealous of me if I had but one more charm. Why have I not a breath as sweet even as humble mignonette there? I am badly treated. LILY. Do you want us to be jealous of you, dear chrysanthemum? CHRYSANTHEMUM. Well, when one has every charm but one! MIGNONETTE (_gently_). Would you take my _only_ charm? CHRYSANTHEMUM. To be sure that would not be very generous, would it? HOLLYHOCK. For my part I think you've been spoiled by flattery. Look at me. I have neither scent nor am I popular; yet I have a good conscience, and I've seen better days. I can assure you that once upon a time hollyhocks stood very high in people's regard. Now (_shrugging her shoulders_) no one pays much attention but the bees, and they don't think much of me. ======================= No. 5. IN OLDEN TIMES. Song. Hollyhock. 1. In olden times, in olden times I held my head on high; No garden could dispense with me, And I was ne'er passed by; Of bluest blood, they called me then,--- Alas! those days are gone. The good old days, the best old days The sun e're shone upon. The bees come buzzing in my cup Impertinent and loud, My poor head rings with flitting wings, I'm but one of a crowd; They say I'm not so sweet as some, Ransack my cup the while, It's hard, when one has been a belle, To treat her in that style, 2. In olden times, in olden times I held my head on high; No garden could dispense with me, And I was ne'er passed by; Of bluest blood, they called me then,--- Alas! those days are gone. The good old days, the best old days The sun e're shone upon. CHRYSANTHEMUM. Oh, you shouldn't complain. You had your day. Perhaps I shall be put in the back ground on of these days. Meanwhile you may have found it unmixed happiness to be a belle. I don't. MIGNONETTE. You haven't told us what the trouble is. HOLLYHOCK. Probably she doesn't know. CHRYSANTHEMUM. Yes I do. The trouble is with the people. Now naturally I am a very tidy flower. Every petal is in its place. Yet mankind, those enemies to our peace, have cultivated me and cultivated me, as they call it, until now I am almost all the time frowsy-headed---a perfect _sight_! MIGNONETTE. I noticed that you look as as though a high wind had been blowing you. CHRYSANTHEMUM. Just what I say; and that isn't all. Mankind turns me into all sorts of shapes and colors, and then not satisfied with that they call me names. ALL THE FLOWERS. What! CHRYSANTHEMUM (_impressively_). Yes. They call me a _fad_. The fashionable fad! MIGNONETTE. Poor creature. CHRYSANTHEMUM. I don't wish to be pitied by a creature like you---a little humble, colores thing whom nobody looks at. After all (_proudly_) I am the chrysanthemum---the royal flower! LILY. Dear sister, you are indeed beautiful, but the charms by which you give pleasure to mankind are not of your own making. They are gifts from our Father to whom you should look in thankfulness. As for our mignonette, you are wrong to ignore her. You appeal to the eye, she---to the heart! Sisters, let us tell her the story of the little sick girl. ========================================== No. 6. IN SUMMER WHEN THE DAYS WERE FAIR. Chorus. 1. In summer when the days were fair A little maid lay ill, While other children ran and played, She only must lie still. The songs of birds were wafted Thro' her window on the breeze, And voices seemed to call her, As they whispered in the trees. 2. With tender hands to care for her The little maiden lay, All things that loving tho'ts suggest Were bro't to speed her day. Her gentle eyes beheld the flow'rs That smiled beside her bed, But best of all was mignonette, The little suff'rer said. 3. It lay upon her pillow white Beside her flower-face, The hours were not so long when it Was close in her embrace; It whispered of the shady spots Where crystal waters flow, With ev'ry fragrant breath it told How summer breezes blow. 4. The maid recovered, roses bloomed In her once pallid cheek, Again her garden knew her hand, But 'twas the flower meek That she most tended, loved the best The fragrant little pet Whose restful color blessed her eyes, Her darling mignonette. CHRYSANTHEMUM. There is another trial that I never realized before! Sick people do not care for me. ROSE. And again you must be reminded that one flower must not expect to combine every advantage in her one self. VIOLET (_timidly_). But you do, dear Rose. ROSE (_smiling_). So do you, quite as nearly. VIOLET (_shaking her head_). Oh no, I'm too shy. HOLLYHOCK. What are you afraid of. Why don't you stand up and call your soul your own. Look at me. I'm a hollyhock, and I don't care who knows it. I look over the fence and see the world. VIOLET (_shuddering_). Oh, I couldn't! I have always been so thankful that I was given large green leaves, so I can hide under them when I hear people coming. ============================= No. 7. WE LOVE MOTHER EARTH. Semi-Chorus. Violets. 1. We love mother earth, we violets, We cling to her broad kind breast, In corners where none can find us We love to be hidden best; Where silvery brooklets murmur, Is all the sound we can hear, And woods give a welcome shelter, Oh, there is our home so dear. 2. The ferns lift their graceful feathers In spots that we love to find, The emerald moss encircles Our feet with embraces kind; The rough jagged rocks e'en shelter Our tender heads from the storm, And down thro' the woods thick covert Comes lances of sunlight warm. ROSE. Yes, you are hard to find; but people love you the better for it. VIOLET. We can not help our timid natures; but you, beautiful rose, have no drawback. HOLLYHOCK. And you aren't a fad either like some people. ROSE. Do not praise me, dear friends. You know I blush so easily. CHRYSANTHEMUM. So she does. I wish I did. There is another trial that I never thought of before. If I try to blush I get all sorts of deep mahogany and wine colors. I don't think any flower is so unfortunate as I. (_In a different tone_). There is one thing though that suprises me. Rose doesn't seem to care for flattery. There isn't any doubt that she is a powerfull rival of all flowers---even of me; yet she claims nothing. I have noticed it a number of times. ========================= No. 8. IN PALACES GRAND. Trio. Hollyhock, Lily and Chrysanthemum. HOLLYHOCK and LILY (_or Lily may take the third if her voice is stronger, Chrysanthemum taking second._) 1. In palaces grand where noble and great Bring treasures from sea and from land,... Where precious stones sparkle, rare marbles gleam white, And splendor is on ev'ry hand; Where melody floats on the ambient air, And fountain-sprayed gardens are seen... Oh, richest and rarest of all blossoms there, Our Rose is as ever the queen, the queen, Our Rose is as ever the queen. CHORUS. The years come and go with their ebb and their flow Of fancy and fashion extreme, And this or that flow'r is the queen of the hour, But Rose ever reigneth supreme, supreme, But Rose ever reigneth supreme. 2. In lowliest cot where the laborer dwells With little of beauty in sight.... Still lavishly opened to sun and to show'r Our rose spreads her velvet leaves bright; The dust of the wayside is blest by her face, She rambles o'er rocks still serene... So regally high or so graciously low, None else is so worthily queen, our queen, None else is so worthily queen. (CHORUS.) ROSE. Dear friends, I am indeed a very happy flower. Sometime when my companions have been broken from the stem and taken from me it has made me sad for the moment; but life must end for us all some time, and how much happiness comes into it for us all. To begin with, we can all remember when we were buds and how pleasant it was to begin to see the world. =========================== No. 9. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. Song. Rose. When we were young a curtain green Shut our the sky and trees. We used to dream while breezes rocked Our calyx cradles safely locked With mother Nature's keys. What wondrous things went on within Our little curtained beds, We grew and grew and daily swelled The wall that still so closely held Our sleepy little heads, Our sleepy little heads. The birds sang loud, "Come out, come out, The sunshine is so bright," But our own leaflets rustling low Said, "sleep on, babies, you shall go When mother says 'tis right." The great warm sun shone on and on, And we began to hear The voices of our lullaby Come ever nearer and more nigh With sound more sweet and clear. At last a sunbeam's gentle touch, As it was passing by, Unclasped our curtain, "Wake and see the world without," it cried, and we Looked up into the sky, Looked up into the sky, Oh, blissful moment ne're to forget, When calyxes unfurled, We turned our petals to the sun, And knew that life had just begun In this fair summer world, In this fair summer world. LILY. Yes, it is a fair world even to those of us who get broken from the stem; for the flowers that are gathered have wonderful adventures. One of my sisters was taken from my side a few days ago, and this morning, all wilted, she was dropped near me in the garden, and before she went to sleep she told me her story. She had been to a beautiful wedding, and was happy and proud of the distinction she had enjoyed. ===================================== No. 10. THE FLOWER CUPS ARE SWINGING. Chorus. 1. The flower cups are swinging Like wedding bells a-ringing When like a lily fair a white-robed bride gives heart and hand, And with the music pealing The incense sweet is stealing, The perfume that is God's own gift in all the fruitful land. 2. We follow her with blessing, Her very feet caressing, As down the flow'r-strewn aisle her maiden steps the last time go; While organ tones are pealing With deep and tender feeling, And love in ev'ry heart brings heav'n a while on earth below. 3. Long life, O lovely maiden, The very air is laden With wishes for your happiness as long as life shall last; And may the flow'rs you're treading So lightly at your wedding Be symbols of the joys the years shall on your pathway cast. ROSE. I had a sister who once went once more to a baby's funeral. VIOLET. Ah, I love babies. I am not afraid of them. It is sad to think one should die. ROSE. Sad for a little while; but I thought you knew, Violet, that only seems to be death. Death really means life to babies just as it does to us. ================================= No. 11. O STOP, SOFT BREEZES. Duet. (_Two or three voices on a part_). 1. O stop, soft breezes, a-while your playing, A soul has passed away.... So pure its beauty, so fit for heaven, We could not bid it stay.... In gardens fair where no chill winds blowing Can blight its beautiful life... Divinest tenderness guides its growing Afar from pain and strife. 2. O violets, gather near eyes of azure Whose lids are closed in sleep... And roses lie near the cheek so pallid That used your blush to keep.... Sweet lilies rest on the breast all pulseless, Where innocence e'er held reign... And lie in hands whose dear baby fingers Will ne'er unclose again. 3. Oh, sweet soul drawn from the world's fierce battle, You'll ne'er know want nor cold.... But bending o'er those who held you, treasured You'll draw them to the fold.... The Savior promised, 'A child shall lead them,' So lead with heavenly art... Until in glory and cloudless sunshine We greet thee, heart to heart. BUTTERCUP. I'm sure we all love children. Who give us a warmer welcome when we first peep out in the spring? We flowers of the fields and meadows know what it is to enjoy childrens' romps. =================================== No. 12. HERE THEY COME ROLLICKING. Chorus. 1. Here they come rollicking, here they come frollicking, Springtime and children all laughing together. Thro' the long meadow grass look as they fleetly pass, Shouting for joy in the sunshiny weather. 2. Do you love butter, the sweet voices utter, while Buttercups yellow each chin's now reflecting; Quick comes the gay reply, yes we do, you and I, Golden and bright, jast as we were expecting. 3. Nature with joy is rife, each field so full of life, Brooks running free after long winter's sleeping. What wonder children gay romp all the happy day, Knowing no rest till the stars down are peeping. 4. Tucked in their little beds, all the dear sleepy heads Long for the morn to begin the day over; Light feet and sparkling eyes dance 'neath the summer skies, As the birds sing and the bees seek the clover. ROSE. Yes, we all testify to the same thing. Blessing and happiness. CHRYSANTHEMUM (_aside_). And these sister flowers have taught me a lesson. They find as much happiness, even the wild flowers, as I do, perhaps more. No one complains but me. The little festival has taught me to live in my joys and not to hunt for causees for discontent. ===================================== No. 13. THERE'S A STILL SWEET VOICE. Song. Chrysanthemum. 1. There's a still sweet voice that we all may hear If we list to its pleading tone, To each drooping heart now it says---"look up And no longer make selfish moan." If some bitter drops are within your cup, Neither bitter nor sweet will stay, And the journey brightens as the time sweeps on, If we live in our joys today, And the journey brightens as the time sweeps on, If we live in our joys today. 2. There's a threat'ning cloud in the brooding sky, Yet a rift of the blue is there, O'er a trustful heart let the tempest rage, There is One who will help you bear. Black of blackest clouds shines the golden sun, As it shineth for aye-eth for aye and aye, There is comfort always for him who seeks And will live in his joys today, There is comfort always for him who seeks And will live in his joys today. LILY. I think we all appreciate the blessings granted to the flowers; yet it does us good to name them sometimes as we have to-day. The best of all we have none of us yet mentionedl; and yet we know to whom we owe our lives. When man, our master, praises his Creatorm does he not consider that our beauty and fragrance are worthy to adorn the place of worship? Ah, my brothers and sisters, let this realization be the crowning thought of our festival. In the churches, dedicated to the loving Father of all, we find the highest and holiest use which God grants to his flowers. =========================================== No. 14. NOW WITH FAINT HEARTS FULL OF JOY. Chorus and Obligato. Rose. [CHORUS] Now with hearts full of joy and gladness Gather round, all ye flow'rs, and sing, For in God's own house is our festival, And his praises again we'll bring... His praises again we'll bring. Wondrous mercies we must acknowledge In the garden, the field and wood, From the hand of Him who created all, And in love has pronouced them good. Oh the glory and joy of the summer, Time of song and of melody, What a chorus of happy creatures Lift their voices in rhapsody! Ev'ry tired heart may gain new vigor In the field 'neath the spreading trees, From the life that infills all Nature, And rejoices in ev'ry breeze, And rejoices in ev'ry breeze. [ROSE] Now with hearts of joy, with hearts full of joy... [CHORUS] Now with hearts full of joy and [ROSE] joy and [CHORUS and ROSE with overlapping parts] [ROSE] gladness Gather round and sing... In God's own house our festival, And his praises bring, And his praises bring, His praised bring, His wondrous mercies we must acknowledge In garden fair, in garden, field and wood The hand of Him created all, In love pronouced, pronounced them good, To his name be thankful praise, be praise Now and evermore. Amen, Amen... Amen.... [CHORUS] gladness Gather round, all ye flow'rs, and sing, For in God's own house is our festival, And his praises again will bring, His praises again we'll bring, Wondrous mercies we must acknowledge, In the garden, the field and wood, From the land of Him who created all, And in love had pronouced them good, To his name be thankful praise Now and evermore. Amen, (Amen, Amen, Amen,) Amen.... [Transcription by Benjamin Robert Tubb on 27 July 1999. This text is in the Public Domain.]