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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

In the little Belgium town of Mirlemont¹, there was a crippled girl called Laine. She lived with her parents Simon and Joan. For a long time cruel folk in the town (or perhaps they were just ordinary folk, like you and I) had been taunting Laine because she was ugly (different?).

Desperately unhappy, in this song from The Beauty Stone, Laine prays to be allowed to die . . .

Laine's Prayer - Dear Mary Mother

Quasi recit. - Dear Mary Mother,
Unto Thee I bring a poor maid's prayer!
I am a crooked, wan, misshapen thing,
And may not dare to lift mine eyes to Thine,
Lest haply so 
Thy heart should find no pity left to spare
For all my woe!

Mother of Jesu, at thy feet . . I cry:
I do but crave for love that
So my heart may live,
Else, what am I?
Nay, and if God above
Hath naught of love to give,
I fain would die!
Mother of Jesu, I fain . . . would die!

- - - - - - -

Quasi recit. - To Him who gave the rose its vermeil hue
'Twere vain to pray
That He should make this body straight
And new . . and fair alway.
Sooth, that were vain,
Yet thou canst bid God send,
Whereas the night-time endeth ev'ry day,
 My day to end!

Mother of Jesu, at thy feet . . I cry:
For well I wish 'tis so;
Love sorts but with the fair
And naught am I!
Wherefore I fain would go,
Praying but this one prayer,
That I may die!
Mother of Jesu, Ah! let . . . me die!

What a sad state Laine has reached! Perhaps we all get near to rock bottom at times for differing reasons, and look around for a friendly shoulder to cry on. Keep looking there will always be one . . . 

It has been said that Arthur often composed from his organ loft². Leaving aside the jest, can you hear him playing his treasured organ in this piece . . . (Well, not in reality, it's Scribe really.) But it's super imagery, isn't it? What a picture!

Next, let's make a change with George Gershwin in Fascinating Rhythm . . .

1.    Footnote: Geographers among us might like to trace where Mirlemont is, and let us know more about the town. Is it real or fictional, is it like Market Town, or is it part of a larger city? There's lots to discover once the question is raised. What about the other places Laine's parents' home towns - Zolden and Freyden. Let Scribe at MusicSmiles know, and we'll post the information for other visitors to see.

2.    Footnote: See the super book The Complete Gilbert & Sullivan by Diana Bell in our eventual MusicSmiles Bibliography.

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