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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

Earlier this year our Village Singers' leader, Bella, invited me to sing We'll Gather Lilacs in a duet with a soprano who has a lovely voice - Margaret.  I accepted the invitation and the resulting duet was very well received. I also decided to commit the piano-sheet music to the MusicSmiles website as an orchestral piece in the style of a mini piano concerto - (perhaps it's Ivor playing, or the Spirit of Arthur Sullivan, or is it perhaps Bella herself? No, it's none of them, it's our resident MusicSmiles pianist! It is however intended as a tribute to all these 'worthies'). This exercise also helps in the learning process! Hope you like it.

Normally the song is arranged in the format: Verse 1, chorus, then verse 2, chorus. Bella arranged The Singers' duet in the form: verse 1, chorus1, followed by chorus 2. And she wrote a special two part chorus 2 for us - which presented a few challenges (and more interest?) for the singers and audience. I have attached the words for the traditional second verse as a footnote¹ for us to sing if we wish. The song is full of nostalgia. Typical of a war-torn world, it reflects universal human feelings of enforced lovers' partings and of their hopes of a future based on their shared past. 

During my researches into Ivor's music I discovered something of the magic in his harmonies and his creative use of Minor7 and Major7 chords (His two arpeggios in bars 7 and 8 are Gm7 and C7 chords for example). His tunes and lyrics (most of which were compiled by Christopher Hassall) of course are beyond comparison. But enough of this technical talk - on with the show . . .

Click thumbnail > > > to see larger picture of some of 'The Village Singers' at their penultimate rehearsal in 2010 wearing their 'Wee Willie Winkies' [Nightcaps - the theme was Dreams] - then click <- top left of screen to return to this page {unfortunately there were about 10 Singers missing for the photo call - including 5 men at this rehearsal, C'est la vie!}). (Photo by courtesy of The 'Market-town' Advertiser - our local weekly newspaper.

Here it is then, Ivor's wonderful We'll Gather Lilacs:-

We'll Gather Lilacs
(8 bars of exquisitely crafted Intro)

 (Verse) (Solo 1) Although you're far away
And life is sad and Grey
I have scheme, a dream to try

(Solo 2) I'm thinking dear of you
And all I meant to do
When we're together you and I . . .

(Chorus1) (Both) We'll soon forget our care and pain
And find such lovely things to share again.

(Solo 1) We'll gather lilacs in the spring again

(Solo 2) And walk together down an English lane

(Both) Until our hearts have learned to sing again
When you (we) come home once more

(Solo 1) And in the evening by the firelight's glow

(Solo 2) You'll hold me close and never let me go

(Both) Your eyes will tell me all I want to know
When you (we) come home once more . . .

(2 bars transitional Interlude)

Then the two voices interlace in a sort-of 2 part cannon - listen for the two parts in the solo instruments . . .)

(Solo 1) We'll gather lilacs in the spring again
                                                             (Solo 2) We'll gather lilacs 
(Solo 1) And walk together down an English lane
                                                                                                                     (Solo 2) And walk together down an English lane
(Solo 1) Until our hearts have learned to sing again
(Solo 2) Until our hearts have learned to sing, when we are home once more, once more
(Solo 1) And in the evening by the firelight's glow
                                                                      (Solo 2) And in the evening
(Solo1) You'll hold me close and never let me go 
                                                                                       (Solo 2) You'll hold me close and never let me go 
(Solo1) Your eyes will tell me all I want to know
                                                                                 (Solo 2) I want to know we are home once more . . . 

We'll learn to love anew
The simple joys we knew
And shared together night and day.
We'll watch without a sigh
The moments speeding by
When life is free and hearts are gay . . .
My dream is here for you to share
And in my heart my dream becomes a prayer . . .

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Would you like to Gather Lilacs once more . . .?

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