I started to think about period music I know and period music I’m learning.
For my own brain, I decided to make a list. And figured that here is as good a place as any to keep it.
Period Songs I am Working On Currently (though slowly!)
Robin Ma’maime: Adam de la Halle, 13c
A l’entrada del tens clar: Anon, 12c
Douce Dame Joile: Guiamme de Machault, 14c
Reis Glorious: Guiralt de Bornelh, 12c
Prendes I Garde: Guilame d’Amiens, 13c
Or La Truix: Anon 13/14c
Kalenda Maya: Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, Southern French, c. 1155-1207
Ja Nus Hons Pris: Richard the Lionheart, written 1192 – 94 (And my contrafact “Neuer Ye Yeve Away” to this same tune)
Winder wie ist: Neithart von Ruenthal,12c
C’Est la Fins: Guilame d’Amiens, 13c
(These are mostly in French, which I do not speak, and so the words are extra slow going. I am also working to be able to accompany myself on my big psaltery harp or gothic lyre since they’re likely instruments similar to what a solo singer might have had at her disposal. I’m quite in love with the sound and feel of this music, and will be working toward learning them as well as I know my handful of beloved Middle English songs.)
Period Songs I Can Sing Upon Request
Sumer is Icomin In: Anon.,part-song from the 12 th century
Antiphon for the Virgin (Cum Erubureint): Hildegarde von Bingen, early 12th century
I Have a Younge Sister: Middle English lyric/ based on the John Flegel arrangement
Maiden in the Moor Lay:* MS Sloane 2593. c. 1430.
The Herne:* anon 14c/ Breton tune
Sainte Nicholas, God is Druth (Hymn to St. Godric): St. Godric of Finchale, also called St.Nicholas (c. 1070-1170)
Where the Bee Sucks: words Shakespeare “The Tempest” / tune Robert Johnson, late 16th century
Pass Time with Good Company: Henry VIII, early 16 th century
All in a Garden Green: anon/John Playford’s collection “The English Dancing Master” 1651
Three Ravens: Ravenscroft, 1611
Amirilli Mia Bella: Giulio Caccini, 1614
Songs That Only Are Fun With Other People (Rounds etc)
Three Blind Mice: Ravenscroft 1609
Round of Three Country Dances in One: Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
John Kiss Me Now: Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
Hey Downe Downe: Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
Hey Ho, Nobody Home: Anon.,round collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, late 16 th century
I Am Athirst: Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
Hot Mutton Pies (anon)
Banbury Ale Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
New Oysters Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
Joan Glover Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
To Portsmouth Collected by Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609
Hey Ho to the Greenwood
We Be Three Poor Mariners: Ravenscroft
Of All The Birds: Ravenscroft
Lady Come Down and See: Ravenscroft
Come Follow: John Hilton (17c)
Songs Which I Can Perform from Music and/or Lyric Sheets
Worldes blis ne last no throwe: Middle English
Miri it is while sumer ilast: Middle English
Blow Northern Wind: Middle English
Alison: Middle English
Byrd one Brire: Middle English, Camb. King’s Coll. MS Muniment Roll 2 W. 32r
Victime Pascale Laudes (Easter Sequence): 1200, Wippo of Burgundy
The Rules of the List: Chant, Gregorian mode, c.1350 😉
Ah Robin, Gentle Robin: William Cornish the Younger, d.1523
Blow Thy Horne Hunter: William Cornish the Younger, d.1523
O Lusty May: Anon 16c
Wir Zogen In Das Feld: Landschneckt marching song, 1540
Matona Lovely Maiden: English “translation”, Orlando di Lasso, c. 1532-1594
Mon Coeur Se Recommande a Vous/My Heart is Offered Still to You: Orlando di Lasso, mid 1500s
The Northern Lasses Lamentation to the tune Goddesses ; or, The Unhappy Maids Misfortune : John Playford’s collection “The English Dancing Master” 1651;
Farewell Adeiu (to the tune of Selliger’s Round) : Anon.
Country Man’s Delight (to the tune of Selliger’s Round) : Anon.
Young Men and Maids (to the tune of Selliger’s Round) : Anon.
Oh Mistress Mine: text Shakepeare, Twelfth Night: Act II, Scene 3; tune Anon.;
Greensleeves: Anon. first mentioned in 1580
When Joan’s Ale Was New: Anon. 1594
Come Again Sweet Love : John Dowland 1597
Can She Excuse My Wrongs : John Dowland 1597
Now is the Month of Maying : Thomas Morley 1595
Oh Lusty May : Anon. c.1550
Jack and Joan: Thomas Campion
I Care Not For These Ladies: Thomas Campion
Fair if You Expect Admiring: Thomas Campion
Fine Knacks for Ladies: anon/tune Dowland c1600.
Period Yule Music With Sheet Music
The Carnal and the Crane: Child 55, noted in the Oxford Book of Carols as having medieval origin
This Endris Night: 15th-century
Personent Hodie: Melody from Bavarian manuscript (1360), Lyrics from Piae Cantiones 1582
The Old Year Now Away Has Fled (Greensleeves): English Traditional, From a Black Letter Collection, 1642, Ashmolean Library, Oxford
To Drive the Cold Winter Away: Anonymous, before ca. 1625
Dona Nobis Pacem: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, 1500s
Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind: Shakespeare/Goddesses
Get Ivy and Hull: words Thomas Tusser, 1558, tune traditional
Gaudete: Piae Cantiones of 1582
A Carol Bringing In the Boar’s Heed: Lyrics by: Wynkyn de Worde 1521
Good King Wenceslas: tune “Tempus Adest Foridum” (“Spring has unwrapped her flowers”) “Piae Cantiones” of 1582 lyricsJ.M. Neale, 1853
In a Manger He Is Lying: Polish Carol, 16th Century
Lo How a Rose: Es Ist Ein Ros, 15th Century German carol, Michael Praetorius, 1609
In Dulci Jubilo: Heinrich Suso (ca. 1295-1366) “In Dulci Jubilo,” 14th Century German melody
There Comes a Vessel Laden: Andernach Gesangbuch, 1608
Covertry Carol, Luly, lulay: Robert Croo, 1534. (The Coventry Plays are recorded as having been witnessed by Margaret, Queen of Henry VI, as early as 1456, by Richard III in 1484, and by Henry VII in 1492.)
Tommorow Shall Be My Dancing Day: date in question. The New Oxford Book of Carols suggests that the song was originally part of a medieval Mystery Play.
Wassail Wassail: Gloucestershire Wassail, traditional English, some verses believed from the middle ages
Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella: French Provençal Carol by Émile Blémont; French Tune adapted by Seguin from Charpentier (late 1600s)
I Saw Three Ships: John Forbes’ Cantus, 2nd. ed, and is also known as “As I Sat On A Sunny Bank”. It probably dates from the 16th century.
Riu Riu Chiu: Mateo Felcha the elder, Spanish Traditional, 16th Century
The Old Year Now Away Has Fled: Words: English Traditional, From a Black Letter Collection, 1642, Ashmolean Library, Oxford; Tune, Tudor traditional “Greensleeves”
Hey Ho Nobody Home: Traditional Round, Thomas Ravenscroft, published 1609
Veni Emmanuel / O Come, O Come Emmanuel: 15th Century French Plain Song melody; Some sources give a Gregorian, 8th Century origin