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Now is the month of maying, When merry lads are playing, fa la, Each with his bonny lass Upon the greeny grass. Fa la. The Spring, clad all in gladness, Doth laugh at Winter's sadness, fa la, And to the bagpipe's sound The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la Fie then! why sit we musing, Youth's sweet delight refusing? Fa la. Say dainty nymphs, and speak, Shall we play barley-break? Fa la.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- possibly by Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602), first published 1595 [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John (Nicholson) Ireland (1879 - 1962), "In praise of May", 1909 [ duet for soprano and alto with piano ], from Eight songs for upper voices and piano, no. 3 [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602), "Now is the month of Maying", published 1595 [ vocal quintet ], from First Book of Ballets to Five Voices [sung text checked 1 time]
- by George Templeton Strong (1856 - 1948), "Now is the month of Maying", op. 40 (Two Part Songs for Female Chorus) no. 2 (1891), published 1891 [ women's chorus and piano ], Leipzig, A.P. Schmidt [sung text checked 1 time]
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Lidy van Noordenburg) , "Lofzang op Mei", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Javier Conte-Grand) , "Ya llegó el mes de celebraciones", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Lidy van Noordenburg
This text was added to the website: 2008-10-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 73
't is nu de maand van 't Meifeest Als vrolijke jongens dollen, Elk met zijn mooie meisje Op het groene gras De lente kleedt alles in vreugde Laat lachen om winterse droefheid En op 't geluid van de doedelzak Maken de elfen een pad op de grond Foei toch! Waarom zitten we te peinzen, Het zoete genot van de jeugd te weigeren Zeg, sierlijke nimfen en spreek Spelen we Barley-break?
Text Authorship:
- Translation from English to Dutch (Nederlands) copyright © 2008 by Lidy van Noordenburg, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in English possibly by Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602)
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
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This text was added to the website: 2008-10-20
Line count: 12
Word count: 71