The Queen of May (Samuel Howard)
Music files
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- (Posted 2022-05-15) CPDL #69242:
- Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2022-05-15). Score information: A4, 7 pages, 923 kB Copyright: CC BY SA
- Edition notes: Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. This edition is available with the full string accompaniment, or with a keyboard reduction of the string parts.
General Information
Title: The Queen of May
Composer: Samuel Howard
Lyricist: Anonymous
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Solo high
Genre: Secular, Art song
Language: English
Instruments: Basso continuo, strings accompaniment
First published: 1754
Description: Sung at Ranelagh pleasure gardens. The song celebrates a centuries-old folk custom, the election of a Queen of the May. This should in no way be confused with vulgarian strummer [Brian] May of Queen.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
Ev'ry nymph and shepherd bring
Tributes to the Queen of May;
Rifle for her brows the spring;
Make her as the season gay.
Teach her then from ev'ry flow'r
How to use the fleeting hour.
Now the fair Narcissus blows,
With his sweetness now delights;
By his side the maiden rose
With her artless blush invites;
Such, so fragrant and so gay,
Is the blooming Queen of May.
Soon the fair Narcissus dies,
Soon he droops his languid head;
From the rose her purple flies,
None inviting to her bed:
Such, tho' now so sweet and gay,
Soon shall be the Queen of May.
Tho' thou art a rural queen,
By the suffrage of the swains,
Beauty, like the vernal green,
In thy shrine not long remains:
Bless, then quickly bless the youth,
Who deserves thy love and truth.