Oh NO she ISN'T! Oh YES she IS!

For those of us who spend our time flitting from year to year and place to place examining the tangles and puzzles of history, this has been a busy year, so I suggest it's time we took a break. Since we have the facility at our disposal, I would like to take you to the Drury Lane Theatre

in London, in the early 1920s to enjoy a traditional British pantomime.

Unlike the mummenschanz or mime theater of performers like Marcel Marceau, pantomime became firmly established in England as a children's theater during the later years of Queen Victoria. An annual treat for the youngsters whose parents could afford it. Often taking well-known children's tales as the substance of the drama, and throwing in a few double entendres for the amusement of the adults (who, after all, were the paying patrons).

By 1921 Britain is starting to recover from the awful hardships of the Great War, and the 'flu epidemic that ravaged Europe in 1918 and the mood is decidedly upbeat. But just to be on the safe side, I recommend that we both get "Spanish" 'flu innoculations before we depart.

Principal boy (Vanessa Redgrave)	Dame (Les Dawson)	The Good Fairy	The Demon King
	Two clowns	Pantomime Horse (Dobbin)

While there have been some surprising departures from the typical children's story, such as James Bond, the Pantomime, the typical pantomime storylines have included:

• Aladdin
• Mother Goose
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Babes in the Wood
• Dick Whittington
• Cinderella
  

While it isn't quite 1921 material (the song first appeared in 1934), the song below should give you a fair idea of the kind of entertainment I have in mind. The sheet music for the song can be downloaded in a PDF file.

X:65 % number
T:Nobody loves a Fairy % title
C:Arthur Le Clerq % composer
O:http://www.raspberrytarts.com/fairyfifty.shtml % origin.
P:ABABAB
M:4/4 % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q:120 % tempo
%%staves 1 { (2 3) 4 }
V:1 clef=treble name="Voice" sname="Vc." % voice 1
V:2 clef=treble name="Piano" sname="Pno."
V:3 clef=treble
V:4 clef=bass
K:C % key
[P:A verse]
[Q: "allegro " 1/4=120]
[V:1] Z5 |
[V:2] G {B}c G {B} c | [L:1/8] B>^ABd g4 | _A>_e A2 _A>_e A2 | [L:1/4] G {^c}d {^f}g z | z [ECG,] z [ECG,] |
[V:4] C, [ECG,] G,, [ECG,] | D, [FB,G,] G,, [FB,G,] | [_E2C2_G,2] [E2C2G,2] | [D3B,3F,3] (3G,,/A,,/B,,/ | C, z G,, z |
%============================================================================================================================
[V:1] z2 z E | "C" G G "C6" A A | "Cmaj7" B B "C6" A2 | "C" z4 | "G7" z2 z D |
w:1.For years a Fair-y Queen I've bin', For
w:2.For years I reigned in Fair-y Dell, I
[V:2] z [ECG,] z [ECG,] | [GEC] [GEC] [AGEC] [AGEC] | [BGEC] [BGEC] z [CEG] | G {d}e G {d}e |
[f/d/][e/c/][d/B/][c/A/] [BG] D |
[V:3] Z7 | z2 A2 | z4 | z4 |
[V:4] C, z G, z | [C,C,,] z G,, z | [C,C,,] z G,, z | C, [ECG,] G,, [ECG,] | D, [FB,G,] [FB,G,] z |
%=====================================================================================================================================
[V:1] F F G G | "Dm7" A A "G7" G2 | z4 | "C" z2 "C6" z2 | "E7" E ^F ^G E |
w:years I foiled the De-mon king, But a-las I'm
w:waved my wand, and waved it well, If I can't do
[V:2] [FDB,] [FDB,] [GFDB,] [GFDB,] | [AFDC] [AFDC] z [FDB,] | G {c}d G {c}d | [e/c/][d/B/][c/A/][B/G/] [AE] z | [ED] [^FD] [^GD] [ED] |
[V:3] Z | z2 G2 | Z3 |
[V:4][D,D,,] z [G,,] z | [D,D,,] z [G,,] z | D, [DB,G,] G,, [DB,G,] | C, [ECG,] [ECG,] z | B,, E, E,, E, |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "Am" A B c A | "E7" E ^F ^G E | "Am" A2-A z {E} | "D7" D E ^F D | "G" G A "E7" B B |
w:get-ting on, the years have flown some-how,_ And I feel that Fair-y Snow-drop
w:all I did, I'm sat-is-fied be-cos'-I'd soon-er be a "has-been" than I
[V:2] [AC] [BD] [cE] [AC] | [DE] [D^F] [D^G] [DE] |z [EC] [EC] [EC] | [DC] [EC] [^FC] [DC] | [GB,] [AC] [B^GD] [BGD] |
[V:3] Z2 | A4 | Z2 |
[V:4] A,, E, E,, E, | B, E, E,, E, | A,, E, A, =G, | ^F, G, A, F, | G, D, E, E,, |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "Cm" c c "D7" B A | "G" A2-A z | "G7" Z | Z | [L:1/8] "Ab7" Z |[L:1/4] "G7" z2 z |
w:isn'-t want-ed now._
w:would a "nev-er was."_
[V:2] [c=G_E] [cGE] [B^FD] [AFC] | G2-G G | [fcA]/[eBG]/[DAF]/[CGE]/ [BFD] [AEC] | [GDB,] [DAF] [gdB] z | [L:1/8] (3_a_ba g>a _e'>ae'>a |[L:1/4] g z z |
[V:3] Z | z [DB,] [DB,] z | Z2 | [L:1/8] [_ec_G]6 [ecG]2 |[L:1/4] [dBF] z z |
[V:4] A,,2 D, D, | G, {^C,}D, G,, z | Z2 | [L:1/8] Z |[L:1/4] z {^C,}D, G,, |
%=========================================================================================================
P:B chorus
[V:1] [Q: "allegretto " 1/4=240] E |: "C" G E "G7" F D | "C" E G A c | "Fm6" d2 d2-| "G7" d3 e | "C" d c B c |
w:No-bo-dy loves a fair-y when she's for-ty,_ No-bo-dy loves a
[V:2] E |: [GE] [EC] [FB,] [DB,] | [EC] [GEC] [AEC] [cEC] | d2 d2-| d2 d z | [dGD] [cGC] [BGB,] [cGC] |
[V:3] z |: z4 | z4 | z [_AFD] z [AFD] | z [BF] z [eBe] | Z |
[V:4] z |: C, G, G,, G, | C, G, G,, G, | F, C C, C | G, z G,, G, | E, G, G,, G, |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] d c G "D#" ^F | "Dm" F4-| "A7" F3 E | "Dm" F F F F | "A7" A A A A |
w:fair-y when she's old._ She may still have a ma-gic power, but
[V:2] [dGD] [cGC] [GC] [^FCA,] | F4-|F3 E | [FDA,] [FDA,] [FDA,] [FDA,] | [AG^CA,] [AGCA] [AGCA] [AGCA] |
[V:3] Z | z [DA,] z [DA,] | z [A,G,] z [^CA,G,] | Z2 |
[V:4] E, G, E, ^D, | D,2 A,,2 | ^C,2 A,,2 | D, z A,, z | E, z A,, z |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "Dm" F F F F | "A7" A3 G | "D7" ^F ^E F G | A ^G A c | "G" B B "F#" A A |
w:that is not e-nough, They like their bit of ma-gic from a young-er bit of
[V:2] [FDA,] [FDA,] [FDA,] [FDA,] | A3 G | [^FC] [^EC] [FC] [GC] | [A^FC] [^GFC] [AFC] [cFC] | [BGD] [BGD] [A_EC] [AEC] |
[V:3] Z | z [^CA] [CA] z | Z3 |
[V:4] D, z A,, z | E, G, G, z | A,, D, D,, D, | A,, D, D,, D, | G,2 ^F,2 |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "G7" G3 E | "C" G E "G7" F D | "C" E G A c | "Fm6" d2 d2-| "G7" d2 d e |
w:stuff, When once your sil-ver star has lost its glit-ter._ And your
[V:2] G3 E | [GE] [EC] [FB,] [DB,] | [EC] [GEC] [AEC] [cEC] | d2 d2-|d2 [dBF] [eBG] |
[V:3] [DB,]3 z | Z2 | z [_AFD] z [_AFD] | z [BF] z2 |
[V:4] F, D, G,, z | C, G, G,, G, | C, G, G,, G, | F, C C, C | G, z G,, G, |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "C" d c B c | "C7" d c G "C7+" ^G | "F" A4-"A7"| "Dm" A3 e | d c "Dm7" A F |
w:tin-sel looks like rust in-stead of gold._ Your fair-y days are
[V:2] [dGE] [cGE] [BGE] [cGE] | d c G ^G | A4-|A3 [ecAF] | d c A F |
[V:3] Z | [GE]2 [EC]2 | z [FC] z [GC] | z [FD] z [FD] | [AF]2 D2 |
[V:4] C, G, G,, G, | [_B,C,]2 [B,C,]2 | [F,F,,]2 [E,E,,]2 | [D,D,,] A,, D,, z | D,, z [CA,D,]2 |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "G7" E D E F | "C" G G "D#" ^F G | "Ab7" _B _A2 z | "D7" A A ^G A |
w:end-ing when your wand has start-ed bend-ing. No-one loves a
[V:2] E D E F | [GC] [GC] [^FC] [GC] | [_B_AC] [_AGC]2 z | [A^FC] [AFC] [^GFC] [AFC] |
[V:3] B,2 B,2 | Z3 |
[V:4] G, F, G, F, | E, E, ^D, E, | [_A,_E,] [A,E,]2 z | [D,D,,] z [D,D,,] z |
%=========================================================================================================
[V:1] "G7" e d G d |[1 "C" c4-|c z z E :|[2 [L:1/16] "C" c16-|[L:1/4]c2-c z |]
w:fair-y when she's old._ No-
[V:2] [eBF] [dBF] [GF] [dGF] |[1 [cGE] {^f}g {^d}e {b}c | {^F}G z z E :|[2 [L:1/16] c16-|[L:1/4]c2 [c'gec] z |]
[V:3] Z3 :|[2 [L:1/16] [GE]4 [GE]3c [^F^D]3c [=F=D]3c |[L:1/4] [EC]2 z2 |]
[V:4] G,, z G,, z |[1 [C,C,,] z3 | z G,, G,2 :|[2 [L:1/16] C,16-|[L:1/4] [G,C,] [G,G,,] [C,C,,] !D.C.!z |]
%=========================================================================================================
W:Nobody loves a fairy when she's forty,
W:Nobody loves a fairy when she's old,
W:The face of this immortal one to many has appealed,
W:But gone is the illusion once you've had it soled and heeled¹.
W:When you have lost your little fairy dimples,
W:And the moth-holes in your dress let in the cold,
W:The goblins and the pixies turn their backs and say "Hi Nixey,"
W:No-one loves a fairy when she's old.
W:
W:Nobody loves a fairy when she's forty,
W:Nobody loves a fairy when she's old.
W:As far as I can see they try to push you off the map,
W:When once your wand has withered and your wings refuse to flap.
W:When you can't cast a spell without it spilling,
W:And a fairy tale for years you haven't told,
W:You stand there shouting "What-ho!" but they all pass by your grotto.
W:No-one loves a fairy when she's old.
W:
W:Nobody loves a fairy when she's forty,
W:Nobody loves a fairy when she's old.
W:They don't give you an earthly chance to make a livelihood,
W:They're building council houses² now in my enchanted wood.
W:When you are past the age for television,
W:And the air you use is government controlled,
W:It seems that they would sooner listen to a blinkin' crooner!³
W:No-one loves a fairy when she's old.

To convert the code above to sheet music, or listen to the tunes, copy the code for a single song, then paste it here and [submit].



1."soled and heeled"; earlier generations could not afford to replace footwear for anything less than catastrophic damage, so would take shoes to a cobbler to have the sole and/or heel replaced.
2."council houses"; after World War II, with the institution of the Welfare State in Great Britain, local councils were ordered to build housing to be made available at a fair rent to people unable to afford the expense of a mortgage.
3."Crooning"; a style of singing rooted in the bel canto tradition of Italian opera.

Oh Tannenbaum

Even though no snow has fallen yet, it's a chilly December morning in 1849 and a couple of Bank of England wagons are preparing to depart from Garrard's of London, the Crown Jewellers by appointment to Her Majesty, Queen Victoria. It wasn't too difficult to reproduce some convincing credentials that will identify us as more-or-less legitimate officials of the Bank of England sent to accompany the Garrard's officers who will deliver the silverware, crystal and porcelain for a series of Royal Family Christmas banquets. We also have the requisite forms to account for each item unpacked.
The first stage of our journey from Garrards to Paddington Station is quite chilly, even with the warm mittens and a fur muff, and all the layers of my dress (one of the few visits when I don't have to do drag, and I end up wearing a corset and these frightful button-up boots!). At least by the time the train has reached Windsor station we have had a chance to warm up a little. It's worth noting that the Queen herself first travelled by rail in 1842 and has instituted a number of measures aimed at ensuring the welfare of the railway workers. The station we are going to was only opened last year, after the reservations of the teachers of Eton College were overcome. Apparently, they felt that the proximity of the school to the station would offer opportunities that might encourage the boys to explore undesirable possibilities, whatever that meant!
From Paddington we go by the London and Southwestern Railway to the Windsor and Eton station which will later be known as Royal Windsor, and thankfully it's not a long journey from there to Windsor Castle which has been modernised several times and is now a shining example of nineteenth century technology with "silent valveless toilets" (indeed, under the direction of the Prince Consort, the plumbing throughout the Royal apartments has been thoroughly modernised) and speaking tubes in some of the rooms, rather than bell pulls to summon the servants.
You can see that the Union flag is flying as we approach; indicating that Her Majesty is in residence.
The carters unload the crated porcelain while we, under the eagle eye of Mr.Ironmonger (yes! that really is his name) carefully unpack each crate and place each piece as directed by the senior kitchenmaid. When we get to the last two crates Mr.Ironmonger halts us; we are to convey the small table service to the great dining room to be laid out in preparation for the banquet tonight.
With the plates, dishes and silverware loaded onto serving trolleys and still in their innermost wrappings we are hustled through the castle to the great dining room where Mr.Bulstrode, the butler supervises the laying of the table, occasionally straightening a knife, or rubbing an invisibly tiny speck of grime with his white gloves. We, too, are required to wear gloves in order to handle the service.

X:66 % number
T:O Tannenbaum % title
C:Traditional % composer
O:Stefan Karpiniec (this arrangement) % origin.
S:http://home.iprimus.com.au/karpiniec
M:3/4 % meter
L:1/8 % length of shortest note
Q:120 % tempo
K:F % key
V:1 name="Soprano" sname="S." clef=treble % voice 1
V:2 name="Alto" sname="A." clef=treble
V:3 name="Tenor" sname="T." clef=treble
V:4 name="Bass" sname="B." clef=bass
%===================================
%=============2===============3=============4===============5=============6
[V:1] z z C2 | F>F F2 G2 | A>A A3 A | G A B2 E2 | G2 F2 C2 |
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Wie treu sind dei-ne Blät-ter, Oh
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Du kannst mir sehr ge-fal-len. Oh
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Dein Kleid-will mich was leh-ren, Oh
[V:2] z z C2 | C>C C2 E2 | F>F F3 F | D F G2 C2 | C2 C2 C2 |
[V:3] z z c2 | A>A A2 c2 | c>c c3 c | B d c2 B2 | B2 A2 B2 |
[V:4] z z C,2 | F,>F, F,2 C,2 | F,>F F,3 D, | G, F, E,2 C,2 | E,2 F,2 C,2 |
%--------------------------------------------------------------------------
%==================7==============8===============9============10
[V:1] F>F F2 G2 | A>A A3 A | G A B2 E2 | G2 F2 z c |
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Wie treu sind dei-ne Blät-ter. Du
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Du kannst mir sehr ge-fal-len. Wie
w:O Tan-nen-baum, O Tan-nen-baum, Dein Kleid will mich was leh-ren. Die
[V:2] C>C C2 E2 | F>F F3 F | D F G2 C2 | C2 C2 z F |
[V:3] A>A A2 c2 | c>c c3 c | B d c2 B2 | B2 A2 z F |
[V:4] F,>F, F2 C,2 | F,>F, F,3 D, | G, F, E,2 C,2 | E,2 F,2 z F |
%--
%=================11============12==============13===============14
[V:1] c A d3 c | c>B B3 B | B G c3 B | B>A A2 C2 |
w:grünst nicht nur zur Som-mer-zeit, Nein auch im Win-ter, wenn es schneit. Oh
w:oft hat nicht zur Weih-nachts-zeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch er-freut! Oh
w:Die Hoff-nung und Be-ständig-keit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu je-der Zeit. Oh
[V:2] A F B3 A | F>^F G3 G | G E A3 G | E>E F2 C2 |
[V:3] F F F2 F2 | D>D D3 D | CC C2 C2 | G>G F2 C2 |
[V:4] F, F, B,, F, | D,>D, G,3 G, | G, G, C,2 E,2 | C,>^C, D,2 C2 |
%--
%=============15============16============17============18
[V:1] F>F F3 G | A>A A3 A | GA B2 E2 | G2 F2 z2 |]
w:Tan-nen-baum, Oh Tan-nen-baum, wie treu sind dei-ne Blät-ter.
[V:2] F>F F3 E | F>F F3 F | D^F G2 C2 | E2 F2 z2 |]
[V:3] C>C C3 C | C>C C3 C | DD D2 C2 | B,2 A,2 z2 |]
[V:4] A>A A3 G | F,>F, F,3 F | B,A, G,2 C2 | C,2 F,2 z2 |]

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Dein Kleid will mich was lehren: Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit Gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum! Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren. Lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How loyal are your leaves/needles! You're green not only in the summertime, No, also in winter when it snows. O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree How loyal are your leaves/needles! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree You can please me very much! How often has not at Christmastime A tree like you given me such joy! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, You can please me very much! O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree Your dress wants to teach me something: Your hope and durability Provide comfort and strength at any time. O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree, That's what your dress should teach me.

Ever since Her Majesty married the Prince Consort nine years ago, in 1840, England has embraced more and more Germanic traditions and characteristics, and here in the great dining room, the centerpiece of the table, which, in earlier years might have been one of the splendid silver sculptures that Garrard's excel in, is a small fir tree!
As soon as we have finished laying out the table, Mr.Ironmonger retrieves a small strongbox from one of the trollies, from which he proceeds to take and unwrap a number of small, brilliantly enamelled silver figurines, jewelled stars and miniature paintings. Still under his watchful eye we are encouraged to deck the boughs of the fir tree with these delightful ornaments, and Mr.Ironmonger steadies a library chair, evidently brought for the purpose, for Mr.Bulstrode to place the last decorations on the highest boughs. Although he doesn't say anything, I get a faint impression that Mr.Bulstrode regards the tree as quite out of place in a royal dining room.

Before Mr.Bulstrode can even dismount the chair, the Prince Consort himself enters the room, and everybody bows, or curtsies to his royal highness who surveys the table, and the arboreal centerpiece with a critical eye, a smile finally lighting his features.
When he speaks, it is with a slight German accent which seems to emphasise his straight aristocratic bearing.
"Excellent! Most delightful! I congratulate you, Mr.Ironmonger, I am sure our guests tonight will be most pleased." And with those encouraging words, he leaves the room once more.
Had we only been able to visit a couple of years earlier, we might have had an opportunity to meet Felix Mendelssohn, another of Queen Victoria's German friends, with whom she studied piano. But I notice, as we return to the servant's stairway, a portrait of the late Felix draped with black chiffon. Clearly, the people whom her majesty befriends, are counted as very dear to her.

X:23
T:Silent Night
C:Franz Gruber
M:6/8
L:1/8
R:carol
Q:60
K:Bb
"Bb"F>G F D3|F>G F D3|"F"c2 c A3|"Bb"B2 B F3|
w:Stil-l-e Nacht! Hei-li-ge Nacht! Al-les schläft; ein-sam wacht
"Eb"G2 G B>A G|"Bb"F>G F D3|"Eb"G2 G B>A G|"Bb"F>G F D3|
w:Nur das trau--te hei-li-ge Paar. Hol-der Knab_ im lock-ig-ten Haar,
"F7"c2 c e>c A|"Bb"B3 d3|BFD "F7"F>E C|"Bb"B,3 z3||
w:Schlafe in himm-lisch-er Ruh!_ Schl-afe in himm-li-scher Ruh!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Alles schläft; einsam wacht Nur das traute heilige Paar. Holder Knab im lockigten Haar, Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Gottes Sohn! O wie lacht Lieb´ aus deinem göttlichen Mund, Da schlägt uns die rettende Stund´. Jesus in deiner Geburt! Jesus in deiner Geburt! Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Die der Welt Heil gebracht, Aus des Himmels goldenen Höhn Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt seh´n Jesum in Menschengestalt, Jesum in Menschengestalt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Wo sich heut alle Macht Väterlicher Liebe ergoß Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß Jesus die Völker der Welt, Jesus die Völker der Welt. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Lange schon uns bedacht, Als der Herr vom Grimme befreit, In der Väter urgrauer Zeit Aller Welt Schonung verhieß, Aller Welt Schonung verhieß. Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! Hirten erst kundgemacht Durch der Engel Alleluja, Tönt es laut bei Ferne und Nah: Jesus der Retter ist da! Jesus der Retter ist da! Josef Mohr, cir­ca 1816-1818

Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and Child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born! Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light; Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. Silent night, holy night Wondrous star, lend thy light; With the angels let us sing, Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born!

To convert the code above to sheet music, or listen to the tunes, copy the code for a single song, then paste it here and [submit].

Ode by a Christmas Pudding at Sea

Sometimes, words are superfluous (except for the lyrics of course).

X:62 % number
T:Ode by a Christmas Pudding at Sea % title
C:Myscha Aiken % composer
O:Lyric by Arthur Lockyer % origin.
M:C % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q: % tempo
K:G % key
V:1 % voice 1
"D7"z3 D | "G"G G "D7"F A | "G"G G "D7"D D | "G"G G "D7"F A | "G"G2 G D |
w:To all you pud-dings now on shore I write to give a no-tion of
"G"G G "D7"F A | "G"G G "D7"D D | "G"G G "D7"F A | "G"G2 G B/B/ |
w:what mis-haps there are in store for pud-dings born on O-cean; it_
"C"c c e c | "G"B B d B/B/ | "D7"A G F E | "D7"F E D D/D/ |
w:blew a gale from sou-sou-west but the skip-per's wife she did her best as she
"C"E E/E/ "D7"F F/F/ | "G"G G "C"c c/c/ | "G"B G "D7"A F | "G"G3 z |]
w:knea-ded the dough on her own sea-chest with a fal-lal-lal-lal-la!
W:
W:The vessel gave a lurch, a wave
W:right down the hatchway came;
W:the skipper's wife stood stout and brave,
W:I wish I'd done the same;
W:for I roll'd in a fright along the floor,
W:and the skipper coming in at the door
W:gave me a kick, which my jacket tore, with a fal-lal lal-lal la
W:
W:His good wife gathered up the bits
W:and put my limbs together;
W:says she "I must have lost my wits
W:to cook in such foul weather;
W:but sailor boys they love good cheer
W:and Christmas comes but once a year,
W:so I won't be beat, I'll persevere", with a fal-lal lal-lal la
W:
W:The galley fire burnt bright and clear
W:as she put me in the pot;
W:Thinks I "it suits me being here
W:I feel so jolly hot".
W:But a great green sea burst over the deck,
W:and I fancied myself a perfect wreck,
W:in cold salt water up to my neck! with a fal-lal lal-lal la
W:
W:Cries cook "The pudding's surely spoiled!"
W:"No! No!" says the skipper's wife,
W:"That Christmas pudding shall be boiled
W:if I sacrifice my life!"
W:With her own fair hands she lit the fire
W:and though the waes rose higher and higher
W:at last she accomplished her desire, with a fal-lal lal-lal la
W:
W:And here they are, these sailor boys,
W:all full of mirth and glee;
W:They sit in a ring with lots of noise
W:and they're going to eat poor Me!
W:When smash! there comes a roaring squall,
W:a lurch, and into the scuppers fall
W:sailor boys, Christmas pudding and all, with a fal-lal lal-lal la-

To convert the code above to sheet music, or listen to the tunes, copy the code for a single song, then paste it here and [submit].

Music in the Starlight

Coming as we did, from an age of flashlights and central heating, I had serious doubts about being able to see properly with a candle-lantern but now that my eyes have adapted it's quite surprising how much light it provides. My fingers are still a little sore from touching the hot lid, that's one mistake I won't make again.
I would have preferred to visit the city of Strasbourg in daylight, we might have been able to visit the unfinished cathedral although Erwin von Steinbach, the architect, stonemason and engineer whose name has been credited with much of the work of building the cathedral died more than 90 years ago.
While we make our way through these narrow, dark (and sometimes astonishingly stinky) streets, stay alert for the possibility of footpads. In a later age they would be known as muggers, but their methods and motives are no different. The night is their turf and the city watchmen never seem to be around when the footpads strike. Our destination is the house of Doctor de Raeve, a flemish physician who rents rooms to students at the University of Strasbourg.
The door is opened to us by the doctor's manservant, a portly fellow with a ruddy complexion. Having explained to him that we come in search of the English student, Master Dunstaple, the servant leads us up the steep stairs through the doctor's house while explaining that Master Dunstaple is not like the typical students; when most young men spend their evenings carousing in the taverns or gambling away their inheritances, Master Dunstaple prefers the company of his books and instruments.
"At least", he says "he isn't the one that wakes up chilled to the bone on the front steps, demanding that the door be unlocked to him an hour before the sunrise".
At the top of the house, in an attic apartment, Master Dunstaple receives us with a slightly bewildered look. I explain that we are fellow students who have come to request some help with a latin translation that is proving particularly difficult. (I have a roll of parchment with an inscription partially translated, but the original text has been deliberately miscopied). Once inside Master Dunstaple's apartment it isn't hard to engage his enthusiasm by asking about the armillary sphere standing next to the desk. In an open chest there are rolls of parchment and two books, one leather-bound, the other held between stout wooden covers. On the shelves against the wall beside jars whose labels indicate that they contain various medicinal herbs and minerals are an astrolabe and an alidade, and on the desk is an ephemeris table, something that must have taken hours to copy out on parchment by hand. Clearly, John Dunstaple is a serious student of astronomy.
By this time Master Dunstaple has identified the transcription error, for which I thank him. Watching his face carefully I tell him that I requested the transcription from a fellow-student, Johann Gutenberg, to provide me with more practice in translation.
The same bewildered expression that we saw before clouds his face for a moment, then "Ah! Yes, Johann Gutenberg. The University would probably expel him if they knew that he is a skilled engraver, as well as a student of the Quadrivium!". Taking the alidade from the shelf, "He engraved the scale on this for me as a personal favour. Of all my fellow students, perhaps he is the one who best understands my fascination with the music of the heavens. The Greek Pythagorus wrote that 'There is geometry in the humming of the strings... there is music in the spacing of the spheres.' and though some might call it a heresy, I can imagine no greater beauty than that pure music ordained by God himself."
This seems like a good moment to ask him about the beautiful portative organ which stands on one of the shelves in an open leather case. The portative organ is not the instrument of a casual musician. Most students of the time might strum a gittern, or at least play the rebec or lute. The portative organ suggests to me a thoughtful solitary musician.
X:16                         % number
T:Descendi in ortum meum     % title
C:John Dunstaple             % composer
O:http://www.upv.es/coro/victoria/varios.html % origin.
M:3/2                        % meter
L:1/4                        % length of shortest note
Q:                           % tempO
K:C                          % key
V:De name="Descant" sname="D." % voice 1
V:Al name="Altus" sname="A."
V:Te name="Tenorius" sname="T."
V:Ba name="Bassus" sname="B." clef=bass
%=========2===========3============4============5=========6=============
[V:De] G6 | B3 c d2 | d e2 d B2 | A2 B d c e-|e d c>A c B | A G2 c>B c |
w:De-
[V:Al] G6 | G4 F2   | G6        | A2 G F E2  | G2 A A2 G  | F E C2 E2  |
w:De-
[V:Te] z6 | z6      | z6        | z6         | z6         | z6         |
w:
[V:Ba] z6 | z6      | z6        | z6         | z6         | z6         |
%-
%==============================8===============================9=========10==========11============12============
[V:De] [L:1/8] d2 e2 de f3 edc | [L:1/4] B c/e/ d/c/ c c/ B A/ | c6       | z6        | z6          | z6        |
w:-scen-
[V:Al]         F G2 F G2       |         G c2 E D2             | C2 z2 E2 | E2 F A2 A | G F A>G G E | D2 z2 E F |
w:--------scen-
[V:Te] z6                      | z4 z2                         | c6       | c2 d2 c A | _B2 A2 =B c | d2 B c2 A |
w:De-scen-
[V:Ba] z6                      | z6                            | z6       | z6        | z6          | z6        |
%-
%===============14========================15================16============17============18=============
[V:De] z6        | z6                      | z2 B2 B2        | c d2 c A2   | G c d e>d c | B G2 A B d-|
w:-
[V:Al] G2 F D2 F-| [L:1/8] FG A3 G G3 ^FFE | [L:1/4] G3 E2 D | F2 A2 F2    | E2 F G E2   | D6         |
w:-
[V:Te] G2 z2  d2-| d c2 B A2               | G6              | z6          | z6          | z6         |
w:-
[V:Ba] z6        | z6                      | z4 G,2          | F,6         | C,6         | G,3 F, G,2 |
w:De-scen-
%-
%===================20===============21==========22==========23======24==============
[V:De] -d A B G c>B  | G ^F/G/ A G2 F | G6        | z4 G2     | A4 B2 | c3 B/c/ A B |
w:------------di in or-
[V:Al] z6            | z6             | G4 G2     | G2 A G E2 | D6    | E4 E2       |
w:-di in or-----tum
[V:Te] z6            | z6             | z4 d2     | d3 B3     | A4 F2 | G2       c4-|
w:in or-
[V:Ba] D,2 G,2 F, G,-|G, B, C, G, A,2 |       G,6-| G,6       | D,6   | C,6         |
w:---------di_ in or-
%-
%===============26===========27====================28=========29============30==========
[V:De] G A2 G2 c | B c d2 B c-|c/B/A/G/ G E ^F E/F/ | G6       | z4 G2       | B2 c3 B |
w:tum___ me--------------um, ut vi-
[V:Al] E3 C E F  | D E D G2 A-| A F D E C2          | D2 z2 G2 | G3 F/G/ E D | D2 E4   |
w:me-------------um, ut vi-
[V:Te] c4 A2     | G2 z B2 A  | F2 G C c2           | B4 G2    | C6          | z6      |
w:--tum______ um,__
[V:Ba] C,6       | G,4 G, F,  | A,2 B, C A,2        |      G,6-| G,6         | z6      |
w:tum me-------um,_
%-
%==============32============33============34===========35===================36========
[V:De] d3 B c d-| d B d c A B-| B e2 e d c  | e2 c d c A-| A/G/ A _B F G F/G/ | A6    |
w:de----------------------------rem
[V:Al] D4 E F   | G2 F A2 G   | E2 G E F2   | E2 z4      | z6                 | z4 A2 |
w:de------------rem
[V:Te] z6       | z6          | z6          | e3 c A2    | c2 d2 _B2          | A6    |
w:vi---de---rem
[V:Ba] z6       | z6          | z6          | z6         | z6                 | z6    |
%-
%===============38===========39==========40==========41==========42===========================
[V:De] z6        | z6         | z6        | z6        | z6        | z6                       |
w:-
[V:Al] A3 G G F  | A2 G F D E-| E C2 D2 C | C2 D F2 E | F A2 G2 F | [L:1/8] E2 G2  FE E3 DDC |
w:po----ma con---val-
[V:Te] A2 d2 _B2 | A2 B d2 c  | A2 F4     | A4 B c    | d2 c B A2 | G E2 G F2                |
w:_ po--ma con---val-
[V:Ba] z6        | z6         | z6        | z6        | z6        | z6                       |
%-
%================44=========45=========46===========47===========48==================
[V:De] z6         | G3 A B2  | c3 B G A | G B c A2 c | B2 G B A c-| c/B/ G2 A F E   |
w:con-val-li
[V:Al] [L:1/4] E6-| E4 G2    | E6       | E4 E F     | G F E D2 C-| C/D/ E C A, B,2 |
w:li-
[V:Te] E2 z2 G A  | B3 c B G | A2 G2 c2 | c6         | d2 B G A2  | G2 z2 F2        |
w:li-
[V:Ba]        E,6-| E,6      |      C,6-| C,6        | G,4 F,2    | C,2 D,4         |
w:con----val-li-um,_
%-
%===============50======51========52========53============54=============
[V:De] G6        | z6    | G4 G2   | c3 c c2 | c2 B d>c B  | A A2 G G F |
w:um,  Et in-spi-ce-rem si___ ru-is-
[V:Al] C4 z2     | E4 E2 | E3 E E2 | A4 A2   | F>E G F E D | D3 D B, A, |
w:um, Et in-spi-ce-rem si____ flo--ru-is-
[V:Te] E G2 A G2 |    C6-| C6      | z4 c2   | c2 d2 B G   | A d z2 G2  |
w:um,___ Et_ in-spi--ce--rem_ si
[V:Ba] C,6       |    C6-| C6      | F,6     | A,2 G,2 E,2 | F,2 E,4    |
w:_ Et__ in---spi-
%-
%================56===========57============58===========59=========60========
[V:De] A2 d3 c    | c2 B d2 c  | A3 G/A/ G F | F2 E E F D | F2 z2 c2 | c4 A2 |
w:sent___ vi--------ne-----e et ger-mi-
[V:Al] D2 F G  A2-| A F2 G E D | F4 z2       | z6         | z2 A3 G  | G2 E4-|
w:---------sent et_ ger-
[V:Te] F A2 _B A2 | c2 d2 B2   | c2 d2 e c   | c3 B B A   |       c6-| c6    |
w:flo---ru-is---sent_______ et_
[V:Ba] D,4 F,2    | A,2 G,4    | F,4 E,2     | F,2 G,4    | F,6      | C,6   |
w:_ ce-rem_ si flo-ru-
%-
%===============62===========63==============64=========65==========66==========67================
[V:De] G2 A c2 A | B c d2 B d | c A2 G G F/G/ | A2 z2 c2 | d f2 e d2 | c A2 G2 c-| c/B/ c d2 B A |
w:nas---------------sent ma-la___ pu---ni-
[V:Al] E2 F2 F E | G2 D E2 D  | F E E D2 C    | E4 z2    | A6        | E6        | D4 D2         |
w:__mi--nas---------sent ma-la pu-ni-
[V:Te] C2 F3 c   | d3 B2 G    | c2 G2 z2      | c4    A2-| A2 F4     | C6        | G6            |
w:ger-mi--nas__ ma--la___ pu-ni-
[V:Ba] C6        | G,6        | A,2 _B,4      | A,6      | F,4 F,2   | C6        | D6            |
w:is--sent_ et ger-mi-nas-
%-
%========68======69==========70===========71=========72==========73================
[V:De] c6 | z4 c2 | c2 c2 c2  | A6         | G4 G2    | A4 A2     | c2 d c B c/B/ |
w:ca; re-ver-te-re,_ su-na-mi-
[V:Al] E6 | G4 z2 | A2 A A A2 | E2 E3 E    | E2 E2 E2 | F3 E   C2-| C F2 D F G    |
w:ca_ re-ver-te-re, re-ver-te-re, su-na-mi-
[V:Te] C6-| C6    | z4 A2     | c3 c c2    | c4 c2    | c2 d c2 A | A2 F2 A B     |
w:ca;_ re-ver-te-re su-na-mi-
[V:Ba] C6-| C6    | z6        | z6         | z6       | F,4 F,2   | F,4 F,2       |
w:sent_ su-na-mi-
%-
%===========75======76=========77======78=========79======80============
[V:De] G2 G4 | A4 c2 | c2 B4    | A6    | z6       | z4 d2 | d3 ^c c B |
w:tis; re-ver-te---re, ut in-
[V:Al] E2 E4 | F6    | A3 A ^G2 | A6    | F2 E4    | D6    | z6        |
w:-tis; re-ver-te-re, re-ver-te-re,
[V:Te] c6    | z6    | z6       | z4 d2 | d2 ^c3 B | d4 d2 | d2 e4     |
w:tis; re-ver-te--re, ut in-
[V:Ba] C,6   | z6    | z6       | z6    | z6       | z6    | z6        |
w:
%-
%===============82===========83============84============85=======86==========87==============
[V:De] d3 c _B A | A2 G E F G | B c>B A>F E | F G>F F2 E  | F6     | z6        | z6          |
w:tu---------e-----------a-
[V:Al] z6        | z6         | z6          | z6          | z4 F2  | G2 E A2 G-| G F E C D E-|
w:ut in---tu-
[V:Te] d6        | c4 A B     | G>F G A2 G  | A _B c A G2 | F6     | z6        | z6          |
w:tu----e----------a-
[V:Ba] z6        | z6         | z6          | z6          | z4 F,2 |       C,6-| C,4 F, G,   |
w:ut in--tu-
%-
%===================90===============91==============92=========93==============94=========95==============
[V:De] z6            | z6             | z6            | z4 A2    | A3 B c2       | d3 c A B | A d2 ^c c B |
w:mur-
[V:Al]EF G2 F      G-| G/F/E/D/ C2 D2 | E F2 D2 ^C    | D6       | z6            | z6       | z6          |
w:------------a---mur-
[V:Te] z6            | z6             | z6            | z2 A2 A2-| A F2 G G F    | A4 A G   | A2 F2 E2    |
w:mur-
[V:Ba] A,2 B, G, A,2 | G, C,2 E, F,2  | G, D, F,2 E,2 | D,6      | F,2 A, G, E,2 | D,2 z4   | z6          |
w:----------a--mur-
%-
%==
[V:De] d4-d B | A A2 c d2 | e3 c d c | A G B c d2 |c A2 B   c2-|c B G G2 ^F     | G6  |]
w:-------------------------te.
[V:Al] z4 D2  | D3 E F2   | G2 A3 F  | F2 E3 D    | F3 E C D   | E3 C B, A,/B,/ | C6  |]
w:-------------------te.
[V:Te]     D6-| D2 A2 B2  | c4 A2    | c2 B3 G    | A B c2 A F | A G2 E F D     | G6  |]
w:-------------------te.
[V:Ba] z4 D,2 | D,6       | C,4  F,2-| F,2 G,4    | F,6        | C,2 E,2 D,2    | C,6 |]
w:----------te.To convert the code above to sheet music, or listen to the tunes, copy the code for a single song, then paste it here and [submit].


The song reproduced above, is Dunstaple's Descendi in Ortum Meum. I have an odd feeling that we will be meeting Master Dunstaple again.