John Broderip was perhaps the most prominent member of a dynasty of west country musicians. He was organist at Wells Cathedral (succeeding his father) and published psalmody and glees. This glee comes from his collection of six (Op. 5), c.1770; he also wrote glees in collaboration with Henry Harington, M.D. in Wells then Bath, and leading light of the Bath Harmonic Society.

Lyrics: Alexander Pope

Music the fiercest griefs can charm
And fate's severest rage disarm;
Music can soften pain to ease,
And makes despair and madness please.
Our joys below it can improve,
And antedate the bliss above.
This the divine Cecilia found,
and to her maker's praise confin'd the sound.
When the full organ joins the tuneful choir,
Th'immortal pow'rs incline their ear;
Borne on the swelling notes our souls aspire,
While solemn airs improve the sacred fire,
And angels lean from heav'n to hear.
Of Orpheus now no more let poets tell;
To bright Cecilia greater pow'r is giv'n;
His numbers rais'd a shade from hell,
Hers lift the soul to heav'n.

(Ode on St Cecilia's day)