The song "Silent Worship" is a 1928 English-language adaptation for voice and piano by Arthur Somervell of Alessandro's aria "Non lo dirò col labbro" from Handel's 1728 opera Tolomeo (Ptolemy). It is the ninth song in Somervell's collection Ten Songs of Handel (8) and Giovanni Bononcini (2). Other arrangements of Somervell's translation include voice accompanied by a symphony orchestra, and unison choir.[1]
Musically Arthur Somervell's song is a simple arrangement of the original Handel aria – with the orchestral parts reduced for piano, one or two slight changes in harmony, and the instrumental ending (postlude) omitted.
The text is treated quite differently in the two versions:
"Silent Worship" is featured in the 1996 film adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma, where it is sung by Gwyneth Paltrow (as Emma) and Ewan McGregor (as Frank Churchill). Somervell's English adaptation was done more than a century after Austen's 1815 novel, but the original Italian aria was recorded in Jane Austen's own handwritten songbooks.[2] [3] In the film, Somervell's piano introduction to the song is shortened.
Oh saw you not my ladyOut in the garden there?Shaming the rose and lilyFor she is twice as fair.
Though I am nothing to herThough she must rarely look at meAnd though I could never woo herI love her till I die.
Surely you heard my ladyGo down the garden singing?Silencing all the songbirdsAnd setting the alleys ringing.
But surely you see my ladyOut in the garden there,Rivaling the glittering sunshineWith a glory of golden hair.
Allessandro's cavatina in act 1 of Tolomeo:
Forse con le favilleDell'avide pupille,Per dir come tutt'ardo,Lo sguardo parlerà.
Perhaps the sparksOf my burning eyes,Revealing my passion,My glance will speak.
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