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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This beautiful hymn to Youth¹ is a madrigal² that opens with a welcome from Dorothy's father, Sir George Vernon.

The scene is a wedding arranged by the Cavalier, Sir George for his daughter to marry to her cousin Rupert Vernon, a Roundhead, to assuage the wrath of Parliament. 

Imagine Sir George being introduced by a Master of Ceremonies pounding his staff on the floor, then singing . . .

When the Budding Bloom of May

Sir George Recitative: Welcome, 
I bid ye welcome, one and all!
Let youth and beauty keep their merry May;
For all too soon the leaves of autumn fall,
And evening shadows quench the laughing day.

Sir G Solo: When the budding bloom of May
Paints the hedgerows red and white,
Gather then your garlands gay,
Earth was made for man's delight!

Madrigal: Lady Vernon, Dorothy, Dorcas, and Sir George - 

May is playtime, June is hay-time,
Seize the day-time, Fa la la!
Carol now the birds of spring!
Let our hearts in chorus sing!

Chorus: 1st Soprano, 2nd Soprano, Tenor, Bass - 

Ere the golden day is pale
Dawns the silver orb of night:
Sweetly trills the nightingale
"Earth was made for man's delight!"
Fa la la la,
Fa la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la . . .
"Earth was made for man's delight!"

Sir George Solo: When the leaves of autumn sigh
"Nearer death and further birth!"
Time enough for hearts to cry,
"Man was only made for earth!"

Madrigal: Lady Vernon, Dorothy, Dorcas, and Sir George - 

Youth is pleasant, grasp the present,
Moons are crescent Fa la la!
Time enough for hearts to sigh!
Now the noon-day sun is high!

Chorus: 1st Soprano, 2nd Soprano, Tenor, Bass - 

Day in cloth of gold is gay,
Robe of silver wears the night:
All creation seems to say
"Earth was made for man's delight!"
Fa la la la,
Fa la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la . . .
"Earth was made for man's delight!"

Do we hear a stately dance in the background? What sort of dance is it? Experts please give us your opinion. In the meantime let's give free range to our imaginations and join in the Wedding fun with Sir Arthur and Sydney in their superb Madrigal . . .

Would you now like to hear the lovely solo for Dorothy:  Why Weep.

1.    See Rees & Spencer in our bibliography for details of this song. Return to story.

2.    Footnote: Sullivan wrote some lovely 'mock madrigals'. The originals of the genre came from Italy at the end of the 13th Century, and have been 'improved' many times since, (See Kennedy in our bibliography for further details) Return to story.

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