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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Instead of a big bold straightforward military march, Georges' creative genius shone in this march for children. But don't be fooled, the music is carefully structured and rich in texture but full of fun. The orchestra - sorry, band, can have a whale of a time with the various solos and parts (although the MusicSmiles strings do have a sleight of hand appearance, listen out for them in bars 37 to 53 [MusicSmiles numbering - simple duple time]).

There is a hint of a slower tempo for the march of the weary return guard (the second crochet beat in bars 133 and 135 are marked by Georges as ten. [tenuto] which our music dictionary describes in a word as 'held']). So we have reflected this in a slightly slower overall pace. But enough of these technicalities, grab a couple of saucepan lids and sing (march) along!

We've started with the original French lyrics, then added one of the English interpretations. Choose whichever you prefer. Go on, have a go at the French first . . .

Chorus of Street-boys
(Starting with two trumpet calls, then 20 bar orchestral intro for the relief guard)
(Patience. Wait for it, and enjoy . . .!)

Avec la garde montante,
Nous arrivons, nous voilà!-
Sonne, trompette écletante!
Ta ra ta ta ta   ra ta ta.

Nous marchons la tête haute
Comme de petits soldats
Marquant sans faire de faute,
Une, deux, marquant le pas.

Les épaules en arriére
Et la poitrine en de hors,
Les bras de cette maniere,
Tombant tout le long du corps.

Avec la garde montante,
Nous arrivons, nous voilà!-
Sonne, trompette écletante!
Ta ra ta ta ta   ra ta ta.

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . ..

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . ..

Nous marchons la tête haute
Comme de petits soldats
Marquant sans faire de faute,
Une, deux, marquant le pas.

Les épaules en arriére
Et la poitrine en de hors,
Les bras de cette maniere,
Tombant tout le long du corps.
Nous arrivons, nous voilà!-
Ta ra ta  ta ra ta  ta ra ta ta ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta  ta.

(Interlude two trumpet calls - change of Guard - then the retiring guard)

Et la garde de descendante
Rentre chezelle et s'en va
Sonne trompette éclantante!
Ta ra ta ta ta   ra ta ta.

Nous marchons la tête haute
Comme de petits soldats
Marquant sans faire de faute,
Une, deux, marquant le pas.

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . ..

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta . .
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ra ta . . . . . ..

Now again in English translation . . .?

We are soldiers marching proudly,
Here we come to change the guard.
Boys, blow your bugles loudly!
Ta ra ta ta ta   ra ta ta.

See us march in perfect manner,
We are never out of step.
Follow the waving banner,
One, two, one two, hep, hep!

Straight in line beside our neighbours.
Shoulders back and heads up high.
We raise our trusty sabres,
And salute you going by.

We are soldiers marching proudly,
Here we come to change the guard.
Boys, blow your bugles loudly!
Ta ra ta ta ta   ra ta ta.

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . ..

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . ..

See us march in perfect manner,
We are never out of step,
Follow the waving banner,
One, two, one two, hep, hep!

Straight in line beside our neighbours,
Shoulders back, heads up high.
We present our trusty sabres,
And salute you going by.
Company halt!
Stand at ease!
Ta ra ta  ta ra ta  ta ra ta ta ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta  ta.

(Interlude two trumpet calls - change of Guard - then retiring guard)

We are soldiers marching proudly,
Leaving with the changing the guard.
Boys, blow your bugles loudly!
Ta ra ta ta ta   ra ta ta.

See us march in perfect manner,
We are never out of step.
Follow the waving banner,
One, two, one two, hep, hep!

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . ..

Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta . . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ta . .,
Ta ra ta ta ra ta . .
Ta ra ta ta ra ta
Ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ta ra ta ra ta . . . . . ..

If you choose to use this march as your 'ballet' opener, may we suggest that one of the Street Urchins (perhaps a girl) weary after the march - drops off to sleep - and dreams the desert sequence, in which she may be the principal dancer, (of course!)? One could obviously use several of the songs in the opera as part of a full-scale ballet (it's perhaps already been done); but we are thinking of a smaller scale sequence - maybe as part of a larger concert or ballet display, which any of us enthusiasts could tackle. The choice is yours of course and is completely open.

Next, a well-known, lovely duet - My Heart is All Aglow?

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