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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This lovely madrigal from Ruddigore is in the form of solos for Rose (soprano), Hannah (mezzo-soprano); a quartet (in SATB format) consisting of Rose, Hannah, Richard (tenor) and Adam (bass); and a full unaccompanied SATB chorus. It is positioned near the end of the first act.

Rose (Sop): When the buds are blossoming,
Smiling welcome to the spring,
Lovers choose a wedding day
Life is love in merry May,
Life is love,
Life is love . . ., in merry May!

Sops Chorus: Spring is green
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Sops Chorus: Summer's rose
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
It is sad when Summer goes
Fa la! Fa la la la la!
Tenors Chorus: Autumn's gold,
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Tenors Chorus: Winter's grey,
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Winter still is far away, far away
Fa la la la la!
Fa la la la la!

Chorus (SATB): Leaves in Autumn fade and fall,
Winter is the end of all,
Spring and summer teem with glee,
Spring and summer, then, for me!
Fa la la!
Fa la la la la la!
Fa la la la la la la la!

Hannah (Mezzo): In the springtime seed is sown:
In the summer grass is mown:
In the autumn you may reap:
Winter is the time for sleep,
Winter is the time for sleep.

Sops Chorus: Spring is hope
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Sops Chorus: Summer's joy
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Spring and summer never cloy,
Fa la! Fa la la la la!
Tenors Chorus: Autumn, toil,
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Tenors Chorus: Winter rest,
Quartet (SATB): Fa la la la la!
Winter, after all is best, after all, Fa la la la la!
Fa la la la la!

Chorus (SATB): Spring and summer, pleasure you,
Autumn, aye, and winter too Fa la la!
Ev'ry season has its cheer,
Life is lovely all the year
Fa la la!
Fa la la la la la!
Fa la la la la la la la!

If you had difficulty matching words with music, don't worry, it may be necessary to follow the vocal score and practice, to match every note and syllable. (The syllables also differ between parts to make life more interesting!). If you felt a gavotte coming on at the end you would be correct, but we'll leave that for now. 

In the meantime we hope you enjoyed William's seasonal nature of the piece, and joined in with our arrangement of Arthur's lovely music. Just 'la' it if you must - G&S did!

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