canasg choral music publishing

SG1009

Mary's song

words by Marion Angus (1864-1944)

set to music by Frances Cockburn
for soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus
with optional alto solo first verse

SATB performance time approx 2m 40s

Composer's note

This is a setting of Scots words in a lilting Scots folk idiom, and gives a star role to the altos (my own voice part!). It has a rich sonority and is much liked by audiences.

The tune changes from verse to verse, and in each case the altos sing it first, with tenor and bass accompaniment, and are then joined by sopranos. The first time through the first verse can be taken by an alto soloist, with hums in the lower two parts.

The tune is folky in feel and the whole song should be sung that way, preferably from memory, flowingly and with a freedom of tone. The piece is not difficult musically, but the timing of the pause on 'kiss' in verse 3 needs some attention. A few optional extra harmonies are marked in verse 3 in case you have the voices to carry them.

A recording by Rudsambee company of singers is available on citrus and honey (RUBEECD002).

Music

See a sample of the music

You need Acrobat Reader on your computer to see music pages. If you don't have Acrobat Reader, go to our 'links' page to find out how to get it free of charge. (You'll have to go back to the catalogue page first).

Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

Mary's song

I wad ha'e gi'en him my lips tae kiss,
Had I been his, had I been his;
Barley breid and elder wine,
Had I been his as he is mine.

The wanderin' bee it seeks the rose;
Tae the lochan's bosom the burnie goes;
The grey bird cries at evenin's fa',
'My luve, my fair one, come awa' .'

My beloved sall ha'e this he'rt tae break,
Reid, reid wine and the barley cake;
A he'rt tae break, an' a mou' tae kiss,
Tho' he be nae mine, as I am his.

Marion Angus (1854-1944)

We have been unable to trace copyright on this poem.

Glossary

awa' - away
breid - bread
burnie - small stream
fa' - fall
gi'en - given
he'rt - heart
lochan - small mountain pool or lake
nae - not
mou' - mouth
sall - shall
tae - to
wad - would

Full pronunciation guide provided

Price per copy Ł1.30 ($2.00)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the Scots and Gaelic section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

Canasg Music

publishing startlingly original choral music

Mary's song

Composer's note

Music

Words

Companion pieces

Canasg Music