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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This superb piece of Gilbert and Sullivan high jinks is from their operetta Ruddigore, in which a family of aristocratic ghosts holds sway over the Cornish fishing village of Rederring. This is a wonderful baritone solo, sung by Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (ghost of the twenty-first Baronet) (and the chaps in the chorus have a bit of fun also!). However, don't feel you have to leave it to the baritone and lads - have a go if you feel like it . . .!

The Ghosts' High Noon

Solo:- When the night wind howls
In the chimney cowls,
And the bat in the moonlight flies,
And inky clouds, like funeral shrouds,
Sail over the midnight skies - 
When the footpads quail at the night-bird's wail,
And black dogs bay at the moon,
Then is the spectre's holiday - 
Then is the ghosts' high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha!
Solo:- For then is the ghosts' high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha! High noo oo oo oo oon!
Then is the ghosts' high noon!

Solo:-  As the sob of the breeze
Sweeps over the trees
And the mists lie low on the fen,
From grey tomb-stones are gathered the bones
That once were women and men,
And away they go, with a mop and a mow,
To the revel that ends too soon,
For cock crow limits our holiday - 
The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha!
Solo:- The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha! High noo oo oo oo oon!
The dead of the night's high noon!

And then each ghost
With his ladye toast
To their church yard beds take flight,
With a kiss, perhaps, on her lantern chaps,
And a grisly grim, "good night!"
Till the welcome knell of the midnight bell
Rings forth its jolliest tune,
And ushers in our next high holiday - 
The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha!
Solo:- The dead of the night's high noon!
Chorus:- Ha! Ha! High noo oo oo oo oon!
The dead of the night's high noon!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

With apologies to Sir Arthur Sullivan for adding a few extra MusicSmiles embellishments! Plenty of scope for imagery here, in William's words and Arthur's music. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did . . .

Like to return to the G&S operetta 'Ruddigore' . . .?

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