Drink to me only with thine eyes
VIDEO
Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble
Andrew Megill, conductor
Friday, October 24, 2025
Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall
Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University
DURATION
4'
INSTRUMENTATION
SATB (div.) a cappella
POET
Ben Jonson
YEAR COMPOSED
2025
COMMISSIONER
Northwestern University for the Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble, Andrew Megill, conductor
ORDERING SCORES
This work is published as a digital score with a performance license. The pricing is based on the number of singers in a choir:
- $55: up to 20 singers
- $110: 21-50 singers
- $165: 51-79 singers
- $220: 80+ singers
- Click on the link to email Inkjar Publishing Company
- Specify the number of singers and the name of your choir.
- An invoice will be sent to you via PayPal.
- Once payment is received, you will be emailed the licensed PDF within three business days (excluding weekends and holidays).
PERUSAL SCORE
Coming soon.
TEXT
The composer set the poem “A Song” and an excerpt of “Song: To Celia,” both by the English poet Ben Jonson (1572-1637). Both texts are in public domain.
O, do not wanton with those eyes,
—Lest I be sick with seeing;
Nor cast them down, but let them rise,
—Lest shame destroy their being.
Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
O, be not angry with those fires,
—For then their threats will kill me;
Nor look too kind on my desires,
—For then my hopes will spill me.
Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
O, do not steep them in thy tears,
—For so will sorrow slay me;
Nor spread them as distract with fears;
—Mine own enough betray me.
Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
-
HELIOS • 4’30” • 2 tpts/flugelhorns, hn, tbn, tba
PROGRAM NOTES
In Greek mythology, Helios was the god of the sun. His head wreathed in light, he daily drove a chariot drawn by four horses (in some tales, the horses are winged; in others, they are made of fire) across the sky. At the end of each day’s journey, he slept in a golden boat that carried him on the Okeanos River (a fresh water stream that encircled the flat earth) back to his rising place. The cyclic journey of Helios is depicted in this short work for brass quintet. The first half is fast-paced and very energetic, while the second half is slow and serene, representing day and night.
-S.G.