This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Allan Water
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Allan Water by Henry Elliot Button — Lyrics
On the banks of Allan Water,
When the sweet spring tide did fall,
Was the miller's lovely daughter,
Fairest of them all.
For his bride a soldier sought her,
And a winning tongue had he,
On the banks of Allan Water,
None so gay as she.
On the banks of Allan Water,
When brown autumn spreads its store,
There I saw the miller's daughter,
But she smiled no more.
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About Allan Water
Henry Elliot Button's setting of Allan Water unfolds with gentle lyricism, its SATB voicing crafting a warm, homophonic texture that embraces the sentiment of the text. The familiar English words tell a poignant story of love and loss by the river, moving from springtime joy to autumnal sorrow and winter's chill. The composer’s sensitive approach mirrors the emotional arc, with flowing melodic lines and careful harmonic colouring enhancing the narrative. This partsong captures the pastoral beauty of the setting and the tragic turn of the miller's daughter's fortunes, offering a moving experience for both choir and listeners.
