Peter Hammill - 17. Beating Of The Heart video free download

From the opera, The Fall Of The House Of Usher. This is from the 1999 re-release, "The Fall Of The House Of Usher (Deconstructed & Rebuilt)". The original 1991 release, under Some Bizzare Records, contained drum parts. When Hammill regained rights to the opera, he removed the drum parts and added string parts, played by Stuart Gordon on violin.

Music by Peter Hammill

Libretto by Chris Judge Smith

The House - Peter Hammill

Roderick Usher - Peter Hammill

Madeline Usher - Lene Lovich

Montresor - Andy Bell

The Herbalist - Herbert Grönemeyer

Chorus - Sarah Jane Morris

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ACT 6

CHORUS: Three endless days of bitter grief passed

and Montresor abandoned any attempt to cheer his friend.

Then came a sudden change in Usher's

demeanor, whose significance he was soon to comprehend.

Now Usher stands for hour on hour

with head inclined and eyes half-closed,

as if beneath the deep and sullen silence

a sound exists for which he listens; a sound without end.

Now Usher walks for hour on hour.

With ashen face and trembling step, he climbs each stair,

He climbs each tower; still hears it there.

CHORUS, THE HOUSE:

No. It's only the

beating of the heart,

heart of the House of Usher,

beating of the heart

heart of the House of Usher.

MONTRESOR: Roderick is that you?

RODRICK: I could not sleep

MONTRESOR: Nor I.

RODERICK: Listen to the storm!

Did you ever hear

such a dreadful sound?

MONTRESOR: Indeed.

Indeed I have!

RODERICK: But this sound you can hear;

the tempest beats upon the House

as it would beat upon a drum,

that is no sound to fear.

RODERICK, MONTRESOR:

For the sound to fear

It beats upon the house.

walk softly when they come

The thunder seems so near

But it's only the But it's only the

beating of the heart,

heart of the House of Usher.

RODERICK, MONTRESOR, THE HOUSE:

Oh the lake is Beating of the heart,

in frenzy, I heart of the House

can feel the waves of Usher

beat on the walls Beating of the heart

The breaking of the heart! heart of the House

These giant stones of Usher.

are trembling Beating of the heart

the savage lashing heart of the House

of the storm of Usher.

The breaking of the heart! Beating of the heart

heart of the House

of Usher

RODERICK: Why is that other sound

not hidden by

echoes of the storm?

But understand we only

hear the House

Speaking of a storm,

This is the storm itself!

THE HOUSE: The House of Usher

The House of Usher

MONTRESOR: We've seen enough, I'll close the window.

The gale is chill and grows yet stronger.

These walls are shaking!

You shall play something for me;

you shall play and I shall listen.

So we will pass away this dreadful night.

RODERICK: Yes, I shall play,

yes, I shall play!