background
Full Fathom Five is a choral work by Swiss composer Frank Martin, composed in 1953. The piece is one of many works in which Martin demonstrates his unique style and interpretation of poetic texts. The lyrics of Full Fathom Five come from William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest (Act I, Scene II), and are sung by the spirit Ariel. The words describe the transformation of the drowned King Alonso and his transformation into part of the sea.
Full Fathom Five was performed by Cappella Amsterdam under conductor Daniel Reuss in concert series De grootinquisiteur. At the request of Cappella Amsterdam, the concert was filmed by production company MILLK in De Vereeniging, Nijmegen. The audio is recorded by A-A-AUDIO.
lyrics
Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made:
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea change
Into something rich and strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell:
(Burden: ding, dong)
Hark! Now I hear them, – ding, dong, bell.
performers
Cappella Amsterdam
Daniel Reuss conductor
