Peter Gore-Symes

Four British Folksongs(sArB)

This set is offered as an entertainingl0-minute concert bracket for anunaccompanied SATB ensemble.

A recording may be heard, andperfonnance suggestions be read at:

http : I I note s - about-music . blogspot. com/2009 I 0 4 I setting s - o f- engli sh- fo lks ongs -

for-satb.html

Dedicated to Anna

The Oak and the AshTraditional Br itish Folksong

The numerous variants of this song aro thought to have come either fromNorthumbria orthe North Yorkshire Moors region. but may indeed have Scottish origins. The air also surfacesin the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, and in Playford's "Dancing Master" of 1650 (where it is titled"Goddesses").By the 18th century it had permutated into the well-known "The Oak and theAsh". Sir Walter Scott, in his novel "Rob Roy", makes the narrator of the tale (FrancisOsbaldiston), in recounting the recollections of his childhood, tell how his Northumbrian nurse(old Mabel) amused him bysinging the ditties of her native countrie, and specifically names "O!the Oak and the Ash and the Bonny Ivy Tree" as a Northumbrian ballad.

1. A North Country Maid up to London had strayedAlthough with her nature it did not agree;

So she wept and she sighed and bitterly she criedOh I wish once again for the North Country.(CHORIJS: For the Oak and the Ash and the Bonnie Ivy Tree

They all flourish at home in the North Country.

2. While sadly I roam, I regret my dear homeWhere the lads and young lasses are making the huy;Where the birds sweetly sing and the merry bells do ringAnd the maidens and meadows are pleasant and gay (CHORUS).

3. No doubt if I please I could marry with ease;

Where maidens are fair many lovers will come;But he that I wed must be North Country bred,And earry me back to my own country (CHORLIS).

J-60(Arr.) Peter Gore-Symes 20A9,2011

(lesl - )

SOPRANO

ALTO

TENOR

f- '- #C"Coun-try Maid,

A North Coun-try Maid up to Lon - don had strayed; Al-though with her na - ture it

Lon don had strayedo with her nX =#?ture rt

BASS

nlf u- eH

4

poco

did not

tempo

Which made her re- pent - and so bit - ter- lv la- mentl oh! ra- gree;

A

a

a

wish once a - gain for the Northc-

Coun try; J Oh the Oak

her re - pent- and so bit - ter- ly la-merff?ont

and the Ash and the

"!f, -V.

-

\=# - Coun try.wish once a - gain for the North and the Ash- and the

North Coun try.

North Coun try.

/a

bon - nie I vy Tree, They all flou rish at home in the North\Jr- f,Coun try. -(**)-

A

tt. 'ifra

i *e fibon - nie I - vy Tree, They all flou

qrrish

#7at home in the North Coun

at home in the North- Coun

try.

A

try

A

the North Coun try.

closed mouth humming

rynf -l - +,1- -l -"a Sad- lv I roam" I re - gret my dear home;

fTv While sad-ly I roam, I re-gret my dear home, where the

Sweet- ly sing, and the

\,

p(mm)

P(mm)4

fi+l- \J

-fking the huy; Where the birds sweet-ly sing;

4,

\J ''-Yand young lass ses are ma

lads and young lass es are iirak ing the huy;

the Huy; and the

mer {ry bells do ring, and the maid - ens and mea - dows are pleas - ant and gay.f-/ For the

ryP pleas-ant and gay;

Ware pleas ant and gay.

t-3 -l

mer-ry bells do ring, and the mai - dens and mea - dows are pleas ant and gay.

Oak- and- the Ash"

f nuolgland the Ash.-

3-r

fr-" OaL and the Ash-

North Coun - try.

North Coun trv.

North Coun try.

North Coun try.

A

doubt if I please,

A

A

and the Bon - nie I - vy

3-rflou rish at ome ln my

in my

ree;

I -vy Tree;

,n/A

They all,AA

26

They all flou- =!= T

risll'at home

at home in myI - vy Tree;-

f andthe Bon-nie I-vy Tree;

p

my

Rallentando...

-

Adagietto apiacere

"!ffro

(mm)

4 P (mm)

I could mar- ry with ease;

n

mm)-A

(mm) here

I g_J

(mm)

(mm)

mai dens are fair, ma - ny

mm) (mm)- (mm)

//AA 3-

ryfNoth Coun - try bied;

Coun try.

rallentando

4

4

(mm)

"!f \1-JCar - ry

ry mep

to

my

my own

my own

back

A

back

A

back

A

try.

try.

coun

own_ coun

pmy

ai al

(mm) But- he that I

tlf-wed r must be North- Coun-trv bred;A //

and-

(mm) l'.

,A(mm)-

tr- -"3/ North Coun - try bred;

//- -

-lo - vers will come;

Amfd North Coun - try

\ybred;A //

--

#

"!f me Pro

own coun try.

Dedicated to Marie

Rosebud in JuneTraditional Somerset Folksong

Many broadsheet folksong texts - and poetry - of the 17th and 18th centuries

tended to romanticize and sentimentalizethe imagined world of the rural lowerclesses. Similarly, artists were fond of painting idealised cottage scenes as a formof escapism from the "dark satanic mills" of industrial towns. [n "Rosebud in June"

there is none of the frequent darkness and bitterness of allegorical political lyrics ofearlier times. This innocent but passionate Somerset melody, with its hints of West

Country accent in its rhyming, was thought to bestow blessings on flocks and crops.

It's a Rosebud in JuneAnd violets in full bloom;And the small birds singingLove songs on each spray.We'll pipe and we'll sing, love,We'll dance in a ring, love,When each lad takes his lass

All on the green grass;

And it's "All to plough"Where the fat oxen graze low,And the lads and the lasses

To sheep-shearing go.(An.) Peter Gore-Symes 2009,2011

(lesr - )

Boldlv and decisivelvJ :60

SOPRANO

ALTO

TENOR

and-f ]|t', a Rose-bud in June" - lets in full bloom,

(mm) (ah)

nw- (Small birds

U(Small- birds

BASS

(ah)\--l

And the small- birds

poco rit. tempo,-,

sing - ing) (ah)f-/ We'll- pipe- and we'll w@n)sing tou:,

T-t" We'll- dance- in

a

(ah)sing - ing)

sing ing love songs on each spray;

poco rit.

(ah)

(ah)

tempo

mf" green

green

(ah)

grass; it's "All-And

,

And it's "All-ring, love;

A

\-/takes his lass. All- it's "All-fnno/wt

"n each lad on the gree-ny grass;

And it's "All-

to

lads- and the

-.---Zplough"- Where the

Vplough"-

plough-

plough-

fat- ox en

(ah)\,

gtaze_

gtaze

graze low;

go!

///r

go!

//a

go!

low; And

Athe

to low;

A

low;A

o

(ah)

lass eS'

A

to- sheep shear - ing

sheep- shear - ing

sheep shear ing

lass CS

A

lass CS

A

go!

A

lass - es sheep shear - ing

Dedicated to Ir{icolette

Bonny atMornTrad it ional Northumbr ion F ol ks ong

"Bonnie at Morn" was originally an instrumental melody for the charismaticnorth-eastern bagpipe. Words were added later, but singers often still enjoythe habit of extemponzing characteristically wide bagpipe-like omaments. Thesong tells the story of an exasperated mother who lovingly chides her childrenfor sleeping in too long and neglecting their farm duties.

1. The sheep are in the meadow and the coh's [:cow] in the corn,Thou's o'wer laing in thy bed, Bonny at Mom. [repeat these two lines](cHoRrJs) Canny at night, bonny at morn

Thou's o'wer laing in thy bed, Bonny at Morn.

2. We're aJaid idle with the keeping of the baim [:baby]The lad will nae work and the lass will nae lairn. [repeat these two lines](cHoRUS)

3. The birdie's in the nest and the trout is in the burn [-stream],Thou hinders thy mother at every turn. [repeat these two lines](cHoRrJS)

(An.) Peter Gore-Symes 2A09,2011(resl - )

Dolce expressivo ad libitum J - 90

,

SOPRANO

ALTO

TEI{OR

tl'lon7"7 The sheep's- in the mea- dows, The- coh's- in the corn- Thou's o' - wer laing

BASS

in thy

dim. 1a

mr-mpbed."Bon-nv at Mdrn.

A

Bon-ny at

The sheep's in the mea- dows, The coh's- in the cornr_

dim. ) subito dolce

Thou's-

Bon-ny at

ryBon ny at

Morn.-

A

\,-.JMorn.-*--

\7Morn.-

wer_ laing in thy bed, Bon-ny at Morn. fiun-ny at Bon-ny atnight,

ryBon-ny at Morn. Can-ny at

Unight- Bon-ny

pat-

Bon-ny at Morn.Vmm)-

-l

ryBon-nv at

rr f*Morn. "(ah)-

...-__-A}

Morn; Thou's wer_ laing in thy bed, Bon ny at Morn. 4n,

puBon ny at

pBon ny at Morn.

-,4Pron-

ny at Morn.

doloroso

id - le with the keep-ing of the bairn; The| , | ,inil,

lad will nae- work" and the

we're a laid-

lairn; 4n,\,

lass will nae

lass will nae

wlass will nae

,>--,ralrn;

\-ilairn:

Wlass will nae lairn;

The- lad-\,

will

subito dolce

rynae- work, and thewe're a laid- id - le with the keep - ing of the bairn,

calando pocoA

lass will nae lairn:n- Can-nv at night, Bon-ny at Morn; Thou's

\--l

wer laing

lass will nae -,-?lairn; Can-ny at

p

Bon-ny at Morn;

-_---

it'Lt\4nrght-

lass will nae lairn;Pp 'v(ah)-

ppv(ah)-

plass will

- -

,

p

nae lairn;

Calando

in thy- bed, Bon-ny

ry{,

at Morn.

\--_-Pat Morn.

Morn.-

nlf ut

Piil urgente

Bon - ny at

A)

ryBon nv frn"

rypBon ny at

a

,

turn;

"!f

'r*rllf--mfrFl I ' I rl ' I atburn;- Thou hin - ders thy- mot -her " at eve

bir-die's in the nest- and thetrout is in the

eve ry- turn !

7;\-/

t e- ve ry- turn !-

4' every turn;

frn" bir - die's in the

dim.

nest-\-/

and the trout's- in the burn; Thou-\-,-

dershin - thy- mo-ther at

crescendo allargando

turn;

x--'-> fturn; Can ny at

(ah)

frun- ny- at night, Bon ny at- Morn;

Bon ny at

ryfevery

"!f

"!f

nllf -> --everv

everv

-- .

turn:

(ah)

(mm) \_:

meno mosso

7

// morendo

wer- laing in thy- bed, Bon - ny at

ry\-:/

calando

Bon

Morn.pl-Bon-nv

J

PTr^

at

ny at-

IHrn.

\7Morn.//

at\- -\-.-Morn.-

ry

//

pBon ny at

Bon ny

Morn. Bon

//ny at- M:*

//q

p OSSIA

at Morn.- Bon - ny at M

SOPRANO

ALTO

TENOR

Dedicated to Dale

Searchittg for LambsTradit ional Brit is h F olkson g

This was described by Cecil Sharp, that inveterate collector of British folk music, as

"the most perfect folksong". Mostly in a catchy 5-beat pattern of 2+3, its timeless storyof "boy-meets-girl" is self-explanatory: never was a courtship quite as metoric as this.

1. As I went out one May morning,One May morning betime,I met a maid from home had strayedJust as the sun did shine.

2. What makes you rise so soon, ffiy dear,

Yourjourney to pursue?Your pretfy little feet they tread so sweet,Strike off the morning dew.

3. I'm going to feed my father's flock,His young and tender lambs,That over hills and over dales

Lie waiting for their dams.

4. O stay! O stay! you handsome maidAnd rest a moment here,For there is none but you aloneThat I do love so dear.

5. How gloriously the sun doth shine,How pleasant is the air;I'd rather rest on a true love's breastThan any other where.

6. For I am thine and thou art mine;No man shall uncomfort thee.We'll join our hands in wedded bandsand-a married we shall be.

Con moto .:7A

time,mor- ning,

BASS

(ah)- (be time)

p(ah)

shine.- What makes you ri- se so

,J rymet a maid- from- home had stray'd, Just as the sun- did

(met maid) (home had strayed) (as sun- did shine)

closed mouth hum

(ah)

p(ah)

(mm)

soon my dear? Yourjour-ney to- pur - sue? Your pret-ty lit-tle feet- they- tread so sweeto Strike

closed mouth hum

(pur - sue) (tread so sweet)

going to feed my fath-er's flocko Hisyoung and ten- der lambs, That

._Jfath-er's ock) (ten - der lambs)

.Jo-ver hills- and ov-ver dales,- Lie wait-ing for-their dams.

\-: \,hills- wait- ing for their dams.

stay, O stay, you

mfirr['m

mor - ning dew.

off the mor - ning dew.

off mor-ning dew.

"tf o

'!f'g stay, o

T3-r

hand- some maid and rest a mo- ment

-^ 73

stay- you hand some maid; mo-ment here)

33 poco rall e dim... a tempo

rnr|(rest

\-/I do love so dear.

A

'-r

p(mm

'mT

-" (glor - ious ly)

love so dear. (glor - ious ly)

,J tf-dear.- How glor - ious - ly-- thedo love so sun doth

r-3

shine,

A,

here, For there is none but

(sun doth shine)

3

(sun doth

3

How plea-sant is- the

shine) Plea-sant is- the

you a-lone, That

A,

pyou a- lone that

p'----.-z f(mm mm-mm

Iove sof7\'/Y4

dear.u How glor-ious ly- the- sun doth shine;

5Giocosopiit lento e titubante

rath-er ."r*

rtA

air: I'd

aff;

air)

ra-ther rest

ra-ther rest

\ir'

ra-ther rest

\-,-oth- er- *

wherebreast

air)

,A

reast

-

oth-er where

-

breast- oth- er where

No man shall un-com-fort thee:

f;,

fro,

We'll join our

We'll join our

funa thou art mine;

f\J 7-

u and- thou art mlne:

arn thine

am thine No man- shall un-com-fort thee;

poco rall e dim Adagio poco o poco rall e cresc.......

fnshal I u'-be

!

6-hands

hands

wed ded bands; and-a mar ried

and-a mar ried

\--./and-a mar ried we_ shall

shall- be!

A<

wed - ded bands: and-a mar - ried we- shall- be!