DESCRIPTION:
One of four settings of poetry by John Keats (1795-1821) by the New York based composer Niccolo D. Athens (b. 1988).

World premier performance by Ian Howell and Matthew Stephens August 27th, 2009 @ the Staunton Music Festival (Virginia, USA).

Recorded on a Flip HD video camera and edited with iMovie HD.

http://www.ianhowellcountertenor.com

Text:
(O Chatterton!) how very sad thy fate!
Dear child of sorrow - son of misery!
How soon the film of death obscur'd that eye,
Whence Genius mildly flash'd, and high debate.
How soon that voice, majestic and elate,
Melted in dying numbers! Oh! how nigh
Was night to thy fair morning. Thou didst die
A half-blown flow'ret which cold blasts amate.
But this is past: thou art among the stars
Of highest Heaven: to the rolling spheres
Thou sweetly singest: naught thy hymning mars,
Above the ingrate world and human fears.
On earth the good man base detraction bars
From thy fair name, and waters it with tears.