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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This wonderful baritone hymn to love is sung in the Musical Comedy Florodora by Frank Abercoed (premiered by baritone, Mr Melville Stewart), the manager of the Island of Florodora. In the show he wooed and won his lady, Dolores, and promised to take her back to his Homeland of Wales - in an 'island fair, girt by a Western sea', where the nightingale is 'singing of June'.

Set in a powerfully structured compound quadruple (¹²/8) time, in the glorious key of A flat major, towards the end of the first act, it immediately became a show stopper; and also quickly became a best seller as the most popular love song of its day - a chart-topper in its own right! Sung to and about Dolores in the show, it has a gyrating waltz rhythm and a passionate (and at times wistful) libretto. One could envisage an ethereal dance group in the background woven into the fabric of the scene. But in the real world it was strong enough to stand on its own, and possibly remained that way. It would be simple enough to generalise 'Dolores' into a three syllable 'Beloved' to broaden its pop-song appeal, if need be. However, enough of this musical small-talk, and on with the show . . .

The Shade of the Palm
(2 bar introduction)

There is a garden fair,
Set in an Eastern sea . . .,
There is a maid keeping her tryst . . with me . .
In the shade of the palm . . .,
With a lover's delight . .,
Where 'tis ever the golden day . . .,
Or a silvery night . . .;
How . . can I leave her alone
In this dream of sweet Arcadia?
How . . can I part from her
For lands . . away . . ?
In this valley of Eden . .,
Fairest isle of the sea . . ,
Oh . , my beloved bid me to stay . . .
In this fair . . land of Eden,
Bid me, be-lov'd to stay . . .

Oh ., my Dolores,
Queen of the Eastern sea . .!
Fair . . one of Eden,
Look to the West for me . . !
My star will be shining, love,
When you're in the moonlight calm . .,
So be waiting for me by the Eastern sea,
In the shade of the shelt'ring palm . . .
(Brief 2 bar Interlude)

There is an island fair,
Girt by a Western sea . . .;
Dearest 'tis there
One day thou'lt go . . with me . . .
'Neath the glorious moon . . .
Hand in hand we will roam . . ,
Hear the nightingale song of June . .,
In the dear Land of Home . .!
There, dearest heart, will the past
But seem an idle vision?
Nought . . but a dream that fadeth fast . . away . . ,
And the songs we were singing . . ,
In Elysian vales . . .
Seem . . but a carol of yesterday . . .
Happy songs . . we were singing,
Songs of a bygone day . . .

Oh ., my Dolores,
Queen of the Eastern sea . .!
Fair . . one of Eden,
Look to the West for me . . !
My star will be shining, love,
When you're in the moonlight calm . .,
So be waiting for me by the Eastern sea,
In the shade of the shelt'ring palm . . .
O . . my Dolores,
My Queen . . of the sea . .
Then be waiting for me
By the Eastern sea,
In the shade of the shelt'ring palm.

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