This edition was prepared by Andreas Stenberg — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A Belman's Song
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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A Belman's Song by Thomas Ravenscroft — Lyrics
Maides to bed, and couer coale,
Let the Mouse Out of her hole.
Crickets in the Chimney sing,
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About A Belman's Song
Thomas Ravenscroft's A Belman's Song is a secular SATB setting of a familiar English text. The music conjures a quiet, domestic scene, beginning with a gentle homophony that evokes the stillness of night. The composer skillfully uses contrapuntal imitation to depict the "little Bell" that rings and the unseen motion of the mouse emerging from its hole. The text itself speaks of the time for sleep, the sounds of the hearth, and the subtle yet persistent ringing of a bell. This partsong offers a charming example of early 17th-century English vocal writing, with each voice contributing to the overall atmosphere and narrative.
