David Solomons

Composer

Unknown (works before 1850)

Arranger

David W Solomons

Lyricist

Unknown (works before 1850)

Publisher

David W Solomons

Genre

Classical / Song

Instrumentation

Contralto, Countertenor, Baritone, Classical guitar

Type of score

Score for two performers

Duration

2'22"

Language

English, Latin, Macaronic

Difficulty

Easy

Year of composition

2009

Description
Anonymous 15th century song partly in English and partly in Latin ("Macaronic").
A girl finds herself pregnant by a priest and does not know how to deal with the problem. She is afraid her parents will beat her if they discover it, or that, if she does away with the child, she will lose her life and soul. Evidently the father of the child will have nothing to do with her.
Plus ça change.....

The sound sample is my own performance.

For convenience here are the words with my translation of the Latin bits:

Up I arose in verno tempore [in springtime]
and found a maiden sub quadam arbore [under some tree]
that did complain in suo pectore [in her chest]
saying "I feel puerum movere [the little boy moving]

Adieu pleasures antiquo tempore, [in times gone by]
full oft with you solebam ludere. [I used to play]
but for my sins mihi deridere [they hold me in derision]
with right good cause incipio flere [I start to weep]

Now what shall I say meis parentibus, [to my parents]
because I lay with quidam clericus [some man of the cloth]
They will beat me cum virgis et fustibus [with sticks and clubs]
and me sore chaste coram omnibus [in front of everybody]
With the said child quid faciam [what shall I do]
shall I it keep vel interficiam [or kill it]
If I slay it quo loco fugiam [where shall I flee to]
I shall lose God et vitam eternam [and eternal life]

Upload date

11 Jan 2012