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Song and Dance Music

[Song List] [Dance Music]

Southern Swans Singing Group Song List

The current edition of our songbook, Cantiones Secundae, may be found in this 5MB PDF.

Below is much of the singing group's repertoire. The links are to small Noteworthy files which may be used to view, listen to and practise each of the songs. A free Noteworthy player can be found here -- use it to listen to the whole song, or to individual parts where these have been separated out for you in the file listings.

Southron Gaard Seven

There are the Southron Gaard 7 Dances, and there are the Southron Gaard 7 Songs. These are common songs and dances in our Barony that are useful to know.

MP3 Files

If you prefer to listen to MP3s of the songs (e.g. while exercising), you will find MP3s of many of the songs below in this folder

Current songs we are working on (late 2008):

For Canterbury Faire

Spring Catch
Cease Mine Eyes
Depart, Depart
Some dance songs - see the CF2009 Activities page

Song	Description
And is it Night? Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Suggestive, melodramatic four-parter, Robert Jones, 1609.
A Round of Three Country Dances in One	Very pleasing four-part round, Ravenscroft.
Adieu M'Amour Soprano Tenor Bass	A pensive three part plaint by Alexandri Agricola, in oldish French.
Ah Robin	A part-song comparing two loves, by William Cornysh, from the 1550s. NB a "leman" is not a fruit, but one's lover/mistress!
Alle Psallite	A part-song from 1200s; in Latin; easy bass part; two other parts are the same with phrases sung at different times
April is in my Mistress' Face Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	A stirring four-part madrigal by Thomas Morley, 1594-1600, from 'Thomas Morley's Madrigals for Four Voices' No 1, with an excellent second verse added by a SCAdian.
Arise My Dear Top Middle Bottom	Another wee gem by Thomas Morley, in three parts, intended to steady the nerves of Daphne on her wedding day.
Boar's Head Carol	1521; in modern English with a Latin chorus
Browning, Madame	A lovely, simple round. Ravenscroft ('Deuteromalia' 1609)
Canon in the 5th and 9th Soprano Alto Tenor	A simple three-parter with pleasing harmonies, Jim Ives "Catches and Canons book".
A Catch on the Midnight Cats	A three-part round written by Michael Wise (c. 1648-87); in modern English (SG7)
Cease Mine Eyes Top Middle Bottom	Thomas Morley again, bewailing in three part harmony the delight his lady takes in rebuffing him.
Come Again Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Four parts, John Dowland (1562-1626). A song of deep devotion to a lady, which works best with "maximum ham". May be impossible to sing the last verse with a straight face (SG7).
Coventry Carol	Four parts; said to be 15th century, though possibly older; in modern English (SG7).
CuCu Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Four-part 15th century Spanish song about how not to be cuckolded
Deo Gracias, Anglia Soprano Alto Tenor	Three parts, from a Medieval music collection, "Musica Britannica IV, 1952" (SG7).
Depart, Depart Soprano Alto Tenor Bass PDF score	Four part galliard from the court of Mary Queen of Scots. This version is in reasonably modern English and not 16C Scots.
Dindiridin Top Middle Bottom	Three part bouncy nonsense song, from the Montecassino Codex 871 dated to 1459.
Edi Be-thu	Easy two-part song in Middle English, ca 1200
Fatal a Parte Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Four-part 15th century Spanish song about Consequences for an errant wife and her Spanish lover
Fire-Fire Soprano Bass	Two-parter by Campion about desire.
Great Tom is Cast	"Bell" round -- an easy three-part round in modern English
Gaudete Soprano Alto Baritone Bass PDF score	Four part Latin (mostly) song hailing the Nativity of Christ - although this version shows signs of some slippage in the language over time!
Green Grow'th the Holly	Three parts, said to have been written by Henry VIII; in modern English
He that will an Alehouse Keep	Thomas Ravenscroft, 'Melismata' 1611. Lends itself to extra verses...
I Gave Her Cakes	Cheerful melody by Henry Purcell.
Il Bianco Dolce Cigno Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Jacques Arcade (1504?-1568). A beautiful four-part song.
In Dulci Jubilo Soprano Alto Tenor Bass PDF score	14th C carol, in Latin and German. This is a 1601 harmonisation, so it's approximately in period. For the hard-of-german, here is a score with lyrics in phonetic English.
Jack and Jone Soprano Bass	A cheeky cheerful two-parter (or is it more?) from Thomas Campion.
Je Nuns Hons Pris	With sarcastic counterpoint. Written by Richard Coeur-de-Lion (1157-1199), while impatiently awaiting his ransom.
Martin Said to His Man Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Thomas Ravenscroft, 'Deuteromalia' 1609. Overworn as a one-track but lovely in these four parts.
Miri It Is	Dated to 1220; two parts with the harmony being a simple drone; in Middle English (SG7).
My Love Hath Vowed	Two part song; in modern English (SG7).
Noel Merrily On High	Nice four-part variant on an old favourite; in modern English. The tune is used for the Official Bransle.
Oh How Lovely	"Bell" round -- an easy three-part round in modern English
O My Hart Soprano Alto/Tenor Bass	Short and melancholy piece by Henry VIII. Adaptable to multiple occasions by suitable word changes.
Pase el Agoa	(PDF) A very pretty four-part Spanish song from the Cancionero de Palacio, c.1490
Pastime with Good Company Top Bass	Two or three part song by Henry VIII. Only top and bottom parts are here at the moment.
Pox on You! Verse 1 Verse 2 Verse 3	Very earthy three-part round, best sung with phartophone. Henry Purcell, 1578
See Now	A piece composed by Master Crispin Sexi for the reign of King AEdward I and Queen Yolande of Lochac, A.S. 38
Se Jay Parle	A three-part French ditty about what nuns are not getting up to, honest. Also in PDF form.
Sigh No More, Ladies Soprano Bass	Patrick Doyle, written for the Branagh film verson of "Much Ado about Nothing".
Since First I Saw Your Face Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Four parts, from Musicke of Sundrie Kindes, 1607
Sing We and Chant it Soprano Alto Mezzo Tenor Bass	Five parts, from The first booke of balletts to five voyces by Thomas Este 1595
Southron Gaard (aka Long may She Stand or Rollynge Hylls of Grene)	A marching song commissioned from Master Crispin Sexi by Mistress Roheisa le Sarjent, A.S. 40 (SG7).
Spring Catch Top Middle Bottom	A springy three part song about Spring, in oldish English, by Lady Elen Benet.
Steadfast	A paen for the reign of King AEdwarde Staedfaste II and Queen Yolande II, by Master Crispin Sexi, A.S. 40
Stella Splendens in Monte Soprano Bass	Complex and interesting two-parter from the Red Book of Monserrat C14th
Stephen & Mathilde	A catch composed by Master Crispin Sexi for the reign of King Stephen and Queen Mathilde of Lochac; requires careful attention to timing; in modern English with a Latin ground.
Sumer is Icumen	Middle English round, said to be the oldest recorded English secular song; in Middle English
Sweete Kate Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Works well in two reasonably easy parts and/or with four; from Robert Jones A Musicall Dreame or the Fourth Booke of Ayres 1609; witty and evil; in modern English
The Bell doth Toll	"Bell" round -- an easy three-part round in modern English
Tempus adest Floridam	1582, from Piae Cantiones; in Latin; the tune is better known by its Victorian use as Good King Wenceslas
Time Stands Still Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	In four part harmony, John Dowland (1562-1626) explains how gazing at his lady's face affects him. Emotionally similar to Come Again but less over the top.
Triste Espana Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	Four-part 15th century Spanish lament about the loss of a prince. Sad, slow, and beautiful.
The King Soprano Alto Tenor Bass Score (PDF)	A song to accompany the parading of the midwinter "King".
The Owle Soprano Tenor Bass	Cheerful and catchy drinking song in three parts, Ravenscoft (Deuteromelia) (SG7).
The Sexes	Amusing and melodic 3-part catch on the chief ages of men and women, Purcell.
The Silver Swan Soprano Mezzo Alto Tenor Bass	A five-part satire of a dying swan, by Orlando Gibbons 1583-1625.
Ut Queant Laxis PDF score	A plain chant hymn in praise of the life of St John the Baptist. Use this file to get the notes but ignore the timing which is far too strict and plodding. Noteworthy can't do the free timing that is used in plainchant. Take the time from the cantor leading your group.
We Be Soldiers Three Soprano Alto Bass	Three part drinking song, Thomas Ravenscroft 1582-1635
Weep O Mine Eyes Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	1599, John Bennet
Wilt Thou Unkind Soprano Alto Tenor Bass	John Dowland (1597)

Here are the Southron Gaard 7 Songs, recommended as easy and worthwhile to learn for general roustabout use at feasts and other gatherings:

A Catch on the Midnight Cats (1+ parts, desirably 3)
Agincourt Carol (Deo Gracias Anglia) (2.5 parts)
Come Again (4 parts)
Coventry Carol (4 parts)
Miri it is (1 or 2 parts)
My Love Hath Vowed (2 parts)
The Owl (3 parts)
...and...
Southron Gaard (Long May She Stand) (1.5 parts)

These are marked in the list above with SG7.

You will also find songs being currently or recently practised in the Barony of Ildhafn here. (The rounds I Lay with an Old Man/I Pray You Good Mother are particularly recommended.)

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Dance & Instrumental Music List

Southron Gaard Seven

The following dances are suggested as being both easy and worthwhile for every dancer to try and learn - they travel well, represent an enjoyable range of dance styles, and you're likely to encounter at least a couple of them at any Ball, demo or casual dance:

Double (knot) Bransle
Old Alman
Petit Vriens
Il Piantone
Official Bransle
Ly Bens Distonys
New Bo Peep

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