Before the Ending of the Day

Discussion in 'Sacred Music' started by Clayton, Jul 22, 2022.

  1. Clayton

    Clayton Active Member

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    I very much enjoy the hymn Before the Ending of the Day, but there's something about the way "eyes" and "fantasies" don't rhyme that just drives me nuts.

    I'm pretty sure they're supposed to, but whether "eyes" should be pronounced like "ees" to rhyme with fantasies, or whether "fantasies" should sound like "fantasize" I can't quite say.

    It's much the same with these lyrics in "Roast Beef of England":

    When mighty Roast Beef was the Englishman's food,
    It ennobled our veins and enriched our blood.
    Our soldiers were brave and our courtiers were good
    Oh! the Roast Beef of old England,
    And old English Roast Beef!​

    Food and blood must rhyme!
     
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  2. Anglican Observer

    Anglican Observer Member

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    Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy from my high school English teacher. :)

    Food and blood do rhyme but in a way that's called "eye rhyme".
     
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  3. Ananias

    Ananias Well-Known Member Anglican

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    Especially if you're a Scot.
     
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  4. Clayton

    Clayton Active Member

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    When I sing Roast Beef to my kid, I always pronounce it like “blued”

    “Good” also starts to sound like “gooed “
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2022
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  5. Clayton

    Clayton Active Member

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    I was thinking along the lines of what this chap calls “Original Pronounciation,” compared to Received Pronounciation.

    When he recites the opening of Romeo and Juliet in OP, the eye rhymes become actual rhymes. I wonder if the same is true for Behold the Ending.
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y2QYGEwM1Sk

    I suppose however, since the translation is 19th century, it wasn’t intended to sound like 16th century Shakespeare.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2022
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  6. Ananias

    Ananias Well-Known Member Anglican

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    I went on a Robert Burns poetry kick a long time ago in college. Messed up my English cadences and accents for weeks.

    Check it out: Burns rhymes "me" and "see" with "eye" in the last stanza.

     
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  7. Clayton

    Clayton Active Member

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    Brilliant!
     
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  8. Shane R

    Shane R Well-Known Member

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    I'm pretty sure none of this has anything to do with Arby's.
     
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  9. Rexlion

    Rexlion Well-Known Member

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    England! We have the beef! :laugh:
     
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  10. PDL

    PDL Well-Known Member Anglican

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    Not in English English they don't. Food is pronounced fOOd and blood is pronounced blUd. It's blood and good (gUd) that rhyme.
     
  11. Invictus

    Invictus Well-Known Member

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    The solution is to recite it in Latin:

    Te lucis ante términum,
    Rerum Creátor, póscimus,
    Ut sólita cleméntia
    Sis præsul ad custódiam.​

    Procul recédant sómnia,
    Et nóctium phantásmata;
    Hostémque nóstrum cómprime,
    Ne polluántur córpora.

    Præsta, Pater omnípotens,
    Per Iesum Christum Dóminum,
    Qui tecum in perpétuum
    Regnat cum Sancto Spíritu.
    Amen.​