Welcome to all the pleasures that delight Of ev'ry sense the grateful appetite, Hail, great assembly of Apollo's race. Hail to this happy place, this musical assembly That seems to be the arc of universal harmony.
Alto: ritornello
Here the Deities approve The God of Music and of Love; All the talents they have lent you, All the blessings they have sent you, Pleas'd to see what they bestow, Live and thrive so well below.
Two sopranos and bass: ritornello
While joys celestial their bright souls invade To find what great improvement you have made.
Alto, tenor and bass: chorus
Then lift up your voices, those organs of nature, Those charms to the troubled and amorous creature. The power shall divert us a pleasanter way, For sorrow and grief find from music relief, And love its soft charms must obey. Then lift up your voices, those organs of nature, Those charms to the troubled and amorous creature.
Tenor: ritornello
Beauty, thou scene of love, And virtue thou innocent fire, Made by the powers above To temper the heat of desire, Music that fancy employs In rapture of innocent flame, We offer with lute and with voice To Cecilia, Cecilia's bright name.
Tenor: chorus
In a consort of voices while instruments play With music we celebrate this holy day; Iô Cecilia