John Dryden, A Song for Saint Cecilia's Day

Jena Trammell (Anderson University)

Ed. by Janet Todd, University of Cambridge
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.04: English Writing and Culture of the Seventeenth Century, 1625-1688.
Vol. editors: Jennifer Brady (Rhodes College), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Neil Forsyth (Université de Lausanne), Claire Preston (Queen Mary, University of London), J A Roe (University of York), Virginia Mason Vaughan (Clark University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1687

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Lyric
Music (any)
- Song

Resources

“A Song for St. Cecilia's Day”, composed in 1687, is the first of two great odes written by poet laureate John Dryden and set to music for the annual St. Cecilia's Day celebration held every November 22 from 1683 to 1703 and sponsored by the London Musical Society. St. Cecilia, an early Christian martyr and patron saint of music, was honoured at these public celebrations with concerts and religious ceremonies featuring every year an original commemorative ode commissioned by the Society. Italian composer G. B. Draghi wrote the first musical arrangement for “A Song for St. Cecilia's Day” in 1687. In the 1730s, G. F. Handel created superlative new musical scores for both of the St. Cecilia odes of Dryden.

“A Song for S…

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664 words

Citation: Trammell, Jena. "A Song for Saint Cecilia's Day". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 February 2003 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6970, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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