A woman of no importance.

Take a good look at this family portrait. You could be forgiven for thinking that this is a typical well-heeled family of the early renaissance era; doting Dad, ever-patient Mum and four perfectly-behaved children and grandchildren.
OK. Here's the backstory. Dad will become the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I. Mum is Mary of Burgundy, daughter of the Duke of Burgundy. By marrying Mary (aka Mary the Rich), Maximilian could expect to inherit the dukedom of Burgundy when Mary's father died. The children are variously, the son Philip "the handsome", and grandsons Charles, Ferdinand and Louis (adopted, again in hope of adding more land to the family empire), heir to the kingdoms of Hungary and Bohemia.
Maximilian is nothing if not an empire-builder.
But for now, our concern is not with Maximilian, but with his second wife (Mary of Burgundy died in March of 1482).
In 1494 Maximilian took Bianca Maria Sforza, daughter of the Duke of Milan, as his wife. Bianca's life up to that point hadn't been easy; when she was only four years old, her father had been murdered while attending church. Traditionally a woman was of more importance than an animal, but less importance than a man. In all probability she had no say in choosing her husband, but negotiations were carried out by the Duchy court of Milan. She was only 18 years old.
The purpose of our visit to Innsbruck, 1510, is sadly to bid farewell to Bianca Maria. Such contributions as she has made historically are easily outshone by the magnificence of her husband, Maximilian, who had inherited the title of Holy Roman Emperor in 1493 when his father Frederick III died.
The title of Holy Roman Emperor made Maximilian the official Protector of the Catholic Church, and a subdeacon. For this reason, there could be no Empress of the Holy Roman Empire.
Maximilian's magnificent court has employed the greatest artists and musicians of the age, among them Albrecht Durer, whose portrait of the Emperor below, was painted after Maximilian's death, and Heinrich Isaak. The pomegranate which the Emperor holds is cut open to show the many seeds, symbolic of his wealth and power. Also, take a look at that lower lip. Although it is less obvious in this generation, Maximilian is the founder of the powerful Habsburg dynasty who would later rule from Spain, as well as creating the internationally famous riding school where Lippizaner horses are bred and trained.
Isaak created two settings of a popular song of the time, in much the same way that Elton John adapted his "Candle in the Wind" as "Goodbye, England's Rose" for the memorial service for Princess Diana of England. The first version is better known: "Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen", or Innsbruck, I must leave thee.
The second version, "Welt, ich muss dich lassen" might have been written as a farewell to Bianca Maria although at the time of her death Isaak had accepted a post in Fiorenza, Italy, after leaving the Imperial court.

Welt, ich muss dich lassen

X:11 % number
T:Welt, ich muss dich lassen % title
C:Heinrich Isaak % composer
O:Transcribed by Moriwaki Michio for the Choral Public Domain Library (www.cpdl.org) % origin.
M:C| % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q: % tempo
K:F % key
V:1 name="Superius" sname="Sup." clef="Treble" % voice 1
V:2 name="Contratenor" sname="Ct." clef="Treble"
V:3 name="Tenor" sname="T." clef="Treble"
V:4 name="Bassus" sname="B" clef="Bass"
%=================================================
V:1
z2 F2 | F G A2 | c2 B2 | A2 z A | c>B G2 |
w:O Welt, ich muss dich las-sen, ich fahr da-hin
V:2
c4 | d e f2 | c f2 e | f2 z c | A A B2 |
w:O Welt, ich muss dich las--sen, ich fahr da-hin
V:3
z2 F2 | A B c2 | A2 B2 | c2 z c | c>d _e2 |
w:O Welt, ich muss dich las-sen, ich fahr da-hin
V:4
F,4 | D, G, F, A, | A, G,/F,/ G,2 | F,2 z F, | F, F, _E,2 |
w:O Welt, ich muss dich las---sen, ich fahr da-hin
%== 6 ==
V:1
A2 F2 | E2 z F | G F E F | G2 z G | F G A2 | c2 B2 |
w:mein Stras-sen ins e-wig Va-ter-land. Mein Geist will ich auf-ge-
V:2
A A2 G/F/ | G2 z d | d d c d | B2 z d | d e f2 | c f2 e |
w:mein Stras-sen ins e-wig Va-ter-land. Mein Geist will ich auf-ge-
V:3
d c2 =B | c2 z A | B A G A | G2 z G | A B c2 | A2 B2 |
w:mein Stras-sen ins e-wig Va-ter-land. Mein Geist will ich auf-ge-
V:4
F,2 D,2 | C,2 z D, | G,, D, E, D, | G,,2 z G, | D, G, F, A, | A, G,/F,/ G,2 |
w:mein Stras-sen ins e-wig Va-ter-land. Mein Geist will ich auf-ge-
%==12==
V:1
A2 z A | c>B G2 | A2 F2 | E2 z E | F G A2 | [L:1/8] B3 AGF G2-|
w:ben, da-zu mein Leib und Le-ben set-zen in Got-
V:2
f2 z c | A A B2 | A A2 G/F/ | G2 z g | f e f2 | [L:1/8] f3 edc d2 |
w:ben, da-zu men Leib und Le---ben set-zen_ in Got-
V:3
c2 z c | c>d _e2 | d c2 =B | c2 z c | A B c2 | [L:1/8] d2 B3 AGF |
w:ben, da-zu mein Leib und Le--ben set-zen in Got-
V:4
F,2 z F, | F, F, _E,2 | F,2 D,2 | C,2 z C, | D, G, F,2 | B,,2 z B,, |
%== 18 ==
V:1
[L:1/4] G/F/ F2 E | F2 z E | F G A2 | [L:1/8] B3 AG F G2 | [L:1/4/] G/F/ F2 E | F4 |]
w:-tes gnad-ge Hand, set-zen in Got-------tes gnad-ge Hand.
V:2
[L:1/4] c B c c | c2 z g | f e f2 | [L:1/8] f3 edc d2 | [L:1/4] c B c c | A4 |]
w:-tes gnad-ge Hand, set-zen in_ Got------tes gnad-ge Hand.
V:3
[L:1/4] E F G G | F2 z c | A B c2 | [L:1/8] d2 B3 A/G/F/ | [L:1/4] E F G G | F4 |]
w:-tes gnad-ge Hand, set-zen in Got-------tes gnad-ge Hand.
V:4
[L:1/4] C, D, C, C, | F,,2 z C, | D, G, F,2 | B,,2 z B,, | C, D, C, C, | F,,4 |]
w:Got-tes gnad-ge Hand, set-zen in Got-tes, in Got-tes gnad-ge Hand.

Approximate translations
O world I must leave thee, I my road leads there, into my eternal home. My spirit fails me, and so do my life and health I offer myself into the hand of God.	Innsbruck, I must leave thee, my road leads there, into a foreign country. My beloved has gone there before me, My countenance is pale in my misery.

Compare that, with the original song:

Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen

X:12 % number
T:Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen % title
C:Heinrich Isaak % composer
O:Choral Public Domain Library
O:Http://www.cpdl.org % origin.
M:C| % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q: % tempo
K:F % key
V:1 name="Soprano" sname="S." % voice 1
V:2 name="Alto" sname="A."
V:3 name="Tenor" sname="T."
V:4 name="Bass" sname="B." clef="bass"
%
V:1
z2 F2 | F G A2 | c2 B2 | A2 z A | c>B G2 |
w:Inns-bruck, ich muss dich las-sen, ich fahr da-hin
V:2
C4 | D E F2 | C F2-E | F2 z C | A, A, B,2 |
w:Inns-bruck, ich muss dich las-sen, ich fahr da-hin
V:3
z2 F2 | A B c2 | A2 B2 | c2 z c | c>d _e2 |
w:Inns-bruck, ich muss dich las-sen, ich fahr da-hin
V:4
F,4 | D, G, F, A, | A, G,/F,/ G,2 | F,2 z F, | F, F, _E,2 |
w:Inns-bruck, ich muss dich las----sen, ich fahr da-hin
%== 6 ==
V:1
A2 F2 | E2 z F | G F E F | G2 z G | F G A2 | c2 B2 |
w:mein Stras-sen in Frem-de land da-hin. Mein Freud ist mir ge-nom-
V:2
A, A,2 G,/F,/ | G,2 z D | D D C D | B,2 z D | D E F2 | C F2-E |
w:mein Stras----sen in frem-de land da-hin. Mein Freud ist mir ge-nom-
V:3
d c2 =B | c2 z A | B A G A | G2 z G | A B c2 |A2 B2 |
w:mein Stras--sen in frem-de land da-hin. Mein Freud ist mir ge-nom-
V:4
F,2 D,2 | C,2 z D, | G,, D, E, D, | G,,2 z G, | D, G, F, A, | A, G,/F,/ G,2 |
w:mein Stras-sen in frem-de land da-hin. Mein Freud ist mir ge-nom-
%== 12 ==
V:1
A2 z A | c>B G2 | A2 F2 | E2 z E | F G A2 | B>A G/F/ G-|
w:men, die ich nit weiss be-kom-men, wo ich im E-
V:2
F2 z C | A, A, B,2 | A, A,2 G,/F,/ | G,2 z G | F E F2-| F>E D/C/ D |
w:men, die ich nit weiss be-kom---men, wo ich im E-
V:3
c2 z c | c>d _e2 | d c2-=B | c2 z c | A B c2 | d B>A G/F/ |
w:men, die ich nit weiss be-kom--men, wo ich im E-
V:4
F,2 z F, | F, F, _E, | F,2 D,2 | C,2 z C, | D, G, F,2 | B,,2 z B,, |
w:men, die ich nit weiss be-kom-men, wo ich im E-lend, im
%== 18 ==
V:1
G/F/ F2 E | F2 z E | F G A2 | B>A G/F/ G-|G/F/ F2 E | F4 |]
w:---lend bin, wo ich im E---------lend bin.
V:2
C B, C2 | C2 z G | F E F2-|F>E D/C/ D | C B, C2 | A,4 |]
w:--lend bin, wo ich im E--------lend bin.
V:3
E F G2 | F2 z c | A B c2 | d B>A G/F/ | E F G2 | F4 |]
w:--lend bin, wo ich im E--------lend bin.
V:4
C,-D, C,2 | F,,2 z C, | D, G, F,2 | B,,2 z B,, | C,-D, C,2 | F,,4 |]
w:E--lend bin, wo ich im E-lend, im E--lend bin.
W:
W:Gross Leid muss ich jetzt tragen, das ich allein
W:tu klagen dem liebsten Buhlen mein. Ach Lieb, nun lass mich armen
W:im Herzen dein Erbarmen, dass ich muss dannen sein, dass ich muss dannen sein.
W:
W:Mein Trost ob allen Weiben Dein tu ich ewig
W:bleiben stet treu, der Ehren fromm. Nun muss dich Gott bewahren
W:in aller Tugend sparen, bis dass ich wieder komm, bis dass ich weider komm!

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].

Paying the piper: Yorktown, October 19th, 1781

One of the greatest hazards facing the time traveller venturing into a war zone is that which the soldiers themselves accept as a part of their duty; the possibility of death or serious injury in the fighting. Thankfully, since we are here to witness the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, General of the British Army and representative of His Britannic Majesty, King George III we will not have to share that risk. There is a ceasefire in force since yesterday and the troops seem to be in good spirits.

It's worth mentioning at this point that General Charles Cornwallis is the descendant of the same gentleman in whose patronage John Wilbye began his musical career.

I thought we might get a better view of proceedings by adopting the dress and manners of a couple of redcoat Lieutenants (at this time, the term still retains vestiges of its original meaning - someone who stands in place for another, i.e. a senior officer) returning from leave of absence. Given the circumstances it is unlikely that we will be assigned any duties that might interfere with our observations.

The question we are trying to answer is this; was the popular ballad "The World Turned Upside Down" played in fact, at the British surrender? For centuries it has been widely believed that it was, and it certainly would have been appropriate. But careful searches of archival material have not found any solid evidence that would prove the case. Even if it is played, it would help if we know which version was played; there are several, each with different tunes and lyrics.

Across the field it is possible to hear a few snatches of fife and drum as well as speech, although I can't make out words. I think the music is coming from the French regiment present if I am any judge of the accents. The time is almost two o'clock and the sergeants are mustering the men to march out. I see no sign of General Cornwallis however. It seems General O'Hara has been entrusted with the ignominious duty of offering the British surrender.

From a tent to the rear I hear the incongruous chiming of a carriage clock striking two o'clock, and the British troops march out toward the center of the field. While the mood is not exactly despondent, and most of the troops seem happy to see an end to the fighting, they march with arms shouldered and colors furled.

As the British march to surrender, only the drummer beats a march, keeping the troops in step. It seems the question is answered. And then from the crowd of civilian spectators gathered to witness the victory, an anonymous musician strikes up the tune of "The World Turned Upside Down" in time to the drummer's march beat!

X: 32
T:The World Turned Upside Down
C:Traditional
M:C
N:Posted by Dan Mozell 12/97. Tradition says that this tune was played at the British
N:surrender to the American Continental Army at Yorktown on October 19th, 1781.
F:http://otterlimits.org/fiddling/tunes/longlist.txt 2005-10-29 17:20:15 UT
K:G
D2 D2 G2 G2 | ABcd B2 AB | c2 E2 F2 G2 | A3 G G2 D2 |
D2 D2 G2 G2 | ABcd B2 AB | c2 E2 F2 G2 | A6 A2 |:
A2 FG A3 B | AGFG A3 B | AGFG A2 B2 | E3 D D2 D2 |
d2 dc B2 AG | ABcd B2 AB | c2 E2 F2 G2 |[1 A6 A2 :|[2 A3 G G2 A2 |]

I would like to acknowledge Dennis Montgomery's article for helpful background information.

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]. For more sheet music in abc notation, visit Yahoo! 360.

The north wind doth blow and we shall have snow...

February, from the Tres Riches Heures of the Duc de Berry

Fall is fast approaching and back here in 13th century Europe, the Roman technology of under-floor heating has been forgotten. Having changed your identity again and left the monastery, winter with a peasant family will be a time of bitter cold, damp, and scarce food. Animals will need to be housed in barns wherever possible, or indoors with the family. Folks will snuggle together to sleep, sharing each others warmth (and fleas). Days will be short, nights long, and candles have to be saved for when we need them most.

Even when the ground is covered with snow, somebody will have to go out to forage for firewood. Since there are still dangerous animals out in the forest, not to mention lawless men, you will probably want to take someone with you, and go armed; by now your dagger should be your constant companion - your only table implement, self-defense, and maid-of-all-work tool around the demesne. Menfolk are also required by the Lord of the Manor to practise regularly with the English longbow, so have someone who knows how to shoot go with you when you have to leave the demesne and no matter how hungry you are, don't shoot any deer, deer are property of the crown, and there's a fearful penalty for poaching them.

X:52 % number
T:Mery yt ys
C:Anon
O:English
M:4/4
L:1/4
Q: % tempo
K:F
A A D | E F G E/C/ | G F<D C-|C A A D |
w:Mery yt ys whil sumer y-last_ with fughe-les song;_ Oc! Now negh-
E F G E/C/ | G F<D C-|C z A B | (3A/G/F/ G/A/ F D |
w:eth wind-ès blast_ and we-der strong!_ Ey! Ey! What__ this_ night ys
C2 A B | (3A/G/F/ G/A/ F D | C2 F E/G/ | F<D D<C-| C2 F E/G/ |
w:long and I wit__ wel_ much-el wrong. Sor-we and mur-ne and fast.* Sor-we and
F<D D<C-|C3 z|]
w:mur-ne and fast.

In modern English:

Life is good while summer lasts with birds (fugheles) singing,
But now the wind wails and the weather turns nasty!
The night is so long and everything is so miserable!
My wretched stomach won't stop rumbling!

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].

Are the stars out tonight? I can't tell, is it cloudy or bright?

We're going time-travelling again. This time, to the early 13th century, to the administrative office of one of the larger abbeys. Put this black habit on and tie the rope girdle. You'll have to exchange your shoes and socks for these rope sandals. Your identity will be that of Brother Raynaud, a foreign visitor within the same order. The reason for our visit; brother prior has been sorting through documents that are no longer needed and has found a parchment with directions that have long since been outdated, but the back side is clear and he is writing a love song. Something rather daring for a senior official in a monastic order, but he is being very proper and writing it in a courtly style; aspiring to love but without hope of real fulfilment. Perhaps brother prior heard this song from one of the abbey's noble guests, hostelled during one of the great festivals for the saints, or maybe it is a song he learned before taking holy orders. In any case, this is the first example of a love song written out in England. In all likelihood, the prior was the first person with knowledge of the song and also skilled not only in letters, but in the novel idea of writing music down!

For more than a century the monks have sung their liturgy not only from songs learned by rote, but from books crafted by hand, the words matched with neumes which indicate the movement of the melody to those taught to read the symbols. Within two more centuries, the first information revolution will lay the foundations for the reformation as Gutenberg develops a printing process that makes book production a commercially viable business and the place of the monastic libraries as the greatest repositories of knowledge will begin to fade.

Disclaimer: any similarity between the first few bars of this 13th century song, and "I only have eyes for you" is either bad luck on the part of the latter or a good example of musical serendipity!

X:51 % number
T:Bryd One Brere % title
C: % composer
O:Early 13th C. English % origin.
S:http://home.uchicago.edu/~atterlep/Music/Songs/brydonebrere.htm
M:3/4 % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q: % tempo
K:G % key
V:1 % voice 1
A2 G/F/ | E2 E/F/ | A A G/F/ | E2 E | c2 B |
w:Brid o-ne bre--re, brid, brid o-ne bre-re, Kind is
w:Ich am so bli-the so bryg-hit o-ne bre-re, Whan I
w:Mik-te hic hi-re_ at wil-le_ ha-ven, Ste-de-
(3c/B/c/ A B | c/B/ c/A/ B | c2 c | c/B/ A B |
w:co---me of lo-ve, lo-ve to- cra-ve. Blith---ful
w:se___ that hen---de in hal-le Yhe__ is
w:fast___ of lo-ve, lo-ve-li, tre-we, Of__ mi
A2 B | B/A/ G/A/ G/F/ | (3d/c/B/ d c/B/ |
w:bri-d on_ me_ thu_ re----we_
w:quit of lime,_ lo--ve-lich, tre---we, Yhe_
w:sor-we yhe_ may_ me_ sa----ven;_
G/F/ (3G/F/E/ F | G2 B | B/A/ G/A/ G/F/ | G2 G |]
w:or_ greith,__ lef, greith thou me---- my-- gra-ve.
w:___ ys__ fayr and flur___ of_ alle._
w:Ioye____ and blise were eere___ me_ ne-we.

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].

Visit this site for more information about "Bryd one brere", including a translation into modern English.

Find Y! Groups about:

• Gregorian Chant
• Medieval Life

September 18, 2007 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day

So get 'ee along to the fo'c'sle and I'll pipe 'ee up a merry jig to get 'ee a-dancin' heel-an-toe

X:57 % number
T:Barnacle Bill % title
C:Traditional % composer
O:Transcribed by Myscha Aiken % origin.
M:2/2 % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q:300 % tempo
K:G % key
V:1 % voice 1
gf g2 | G2 G2 | dcBd | gfgb |
ag a2 | A2 A2 | AGFA | d^c d2 |
efgf | eded | cBcB | AGGF |
EDEG | FAGB | Ac B2| G2 G2 |
dcBd | gdBd | gd e2| c2 c2 |
ed^ce | ae^ce | ae f2| d2 d2 |
cB c2 | e2 ed | cBcB | AGGF |
EDEG | FAGB | Ac B2| G2 G2 |]

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].

Highlander!

Respectfully dedicated to my dear friend and true celt, Swot

From the movie of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped"; "Take a letter to my father, the King. Tell him that the public order of the rebels this day was to give us no quarter, and that therefore, they may expect none. Tell him further that it remains only for the pacification of the highlands to begin, and that this is already under way."

X:56 % number
T:Skye Boat Song % title
C:Anon % composer
O:Scottish Traditional % origin.
M:6/8 % meter
L:1/8 % length of shortest note
Q:80 % tempo
P:AB
K:C % key
V:1 % voice 1
[P:A (chorus)]
|: "C" G>AG c>cc |"G" d>ed g3 |"C" e>de "F" A2 A |"C" G3-"G7" G2 z |
w:Speed bon-ny boat, like a bird on the wing, on-ward the sail-ors cry!_
"C" G>AG "Am" c>cc |"G" d>ed g3 |"C" e>de "F" A2 A |[1-3 "C" G3-G z |][4 "C" G3-G3 ||
w:Car-ry the lad that is born to be King, o-ver the sea to Skye_ Skye!_
[P:B (verse)]
"Am" e>ce e3 |"Dm" d>Ad d3 |"Am" c>Ac c2 c | A3-A3 |
w:Loud the winds houl, loud the waves roar, thun-der-claps rend the air_,
"Am" e>ce e3 |"Dm" d>Ad d3 |"Am" c>Ac c2 c | A3-"G7"G3 :]
w:baf-fled our foes stand on the shore, fol-low they will not dare._
W:
W:Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
W:Ocean's a royal bed;
W:Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
W:Watch by your weary head.
W:
W:chorus
W:
W:Many's the lad fought on that day
W:well the Claymore could wield.
W:When the night came, silently lay
W:Dead on Culloden's field.
W:
W:chorus
W:
W:Burned are our homes, exile and death
W:Scatter the loyal men;
W:Yet e'er the sword cool in the sheath
W:Charlie will come again!
W:
W:chorus


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].

London's Burning!

September 2nd 2007 is the 341st anniversary of the outbreak of the Fire of London, which was witnessed and described by Samuel Pepys in his Diary. Some historians suggest that, while the fire wreaked terrible devastation on the city, it also burned away much of the slum accommodation that had provided a haven for the flea-carrying rats which acted as a significant vector for plague outbreaks.

In World War II while the Nazis battled to raze London as a symbol of British pride, the population of the city endured nightly air raids often sheltering in underground (Tube) stations, or hastily erected family shelters in their gardens.

The resilience of the spirit of Londoners has long been celebrated, and whether recovering from a devastating city-wide fire, or the aftermath of a terrorist bomb in Hyde Park, the attitude of the Londoner seems to be summed up by the typical image of someone taking in a shocked neighbour to sit down with a cup of hot, sweet tea before sorting out the practical details.

X:62 % number
T:Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner % title
C: % composer
O: % origin.
M:4/4 % meter
L:1/4 % length of shortest note
Q:180 % tempo
K:A % key
V:1 % voice 1
zA =G>=F | D z _E<=E | =c2 =A2 | G2 =A2 | z A G
w:May-be it's be-cause I'm a Lon-don-er, that I love Lon-don so, May-be it's
GA | =G>=F D z | A>G =G>=F | D2 A A/=G/ | =F =G2 z |
w:be-cause I'm a Lon-don-er, That I think of 'er, wher-ev-er I go,
GA | =G>=F D2 | _E<=E =c2 | A2 G2 | A2 z z |
w:I get a fun-ny feel-in' in-side o' me Just walk-in' up an' down,
=c>A =c>A | =c2 _B>A | d>_B =G2 | d2 =c2 | d2 A2 | =G2 =F z |]
w:May-be it's be-cause I'm a Lon-don-er, That I love Lon-don Town!

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].