Behold, My Love, Op. 108 Nr. 9, flute version

Behold My Love, op. 108 nr. 9, for voice, flute and piano (1817)

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This arrangement of a Scottish folksong was issued by George Thomson with an optional flute part. This version of the song has never been recorded. The arrangement was written as a duet by Beethoven in February 1817, at about the same time shortly after the completion of piano sonata op. 101.

Behold My Love

Behold my love, how green the groves,
The primrose banks how fair,
The balmy gales awake the flow'rs
And wave thy flaxen hair.
The lavrock shuns the palace gay
And o'er the sottage sings
For nature smiles as sweet I ween
To shepherds as to kings.

Let minstrels sweep the skilful string
In lordly lighted ha';
The Shepherd stops his simple reed
Blythe in the birkenshaw.
The princely revel may survey
Our rustic dance wi' scorn
But are their hearts as light as ours
Beneath the milk white thorn?

The Shepherd in the flowery glen
In Shepherd's phrase will woo:
The Courtier tells a finer tale,
But is his heart as true?
These wild wood flow'rs I've pu'd to deck
That spotless breast o' thine:
The Courtier's gems may witness love
But 'tis na love like mine!

--Robert Burns

Opus: 108

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