This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Around the May-pole tripping
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Around the May-pole tripping by John Liptrot Hatton — Lyrics
’Tis Mayday morn, the lark’s awake,
And with the sun’s conferring;
So let’s, for bonnie custom’s sake,
Be at our revels stirring!
Come, gather sprays of roses rare,
Ere yet the wild bee’s sipping;
For each a witching wreath must wear,
Around the Maypole tripping!
Here comes our Queen with violet eyes,
And raven tresses flowing;
She’d grace a throne’s imperial guise,
And set crown’d heads awooing!
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About Around the May-pole tripping
The lively energy of May-day celebrations is captured in this joyful SATB setting of an English text. Hatton’s music opens with bright, dancing rhythms, evoking the 'revels stirring' and 'garland tree' described in the words. The interplay of the four voices builds excitement, mirroring the 'hands enchain’d' and communal delight of the dancers. The composer perfectly matches the text’s imagery of nature and festivity, from the lark’s awakening to the 'flow'rs and ribands streaming'. This secular part-song is a vibrant musical depiction of traditional English spring festivities.
