This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Brightly dawns our wedding day (Mikado)
Staff Notation • Secular, Operas
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Brightly dawns our wedding day (Mikado) by Arthur Sullivan — Lyrics
Brightly dawns our wedding day;
Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
Whither, whither art thou fleeting?
Fickle moment, prithee stay!
What though mortal joys be hollow?
Pleasures come, if sorrows follow:
Though the tocsin sound, ere long,
Ding dong! Ding dong!
Yet until the shadows fall
Over one and over all,
Sing a merry madrigal,
Fallafalla!
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About Brightly dawns our wedding day (Mikado)
This effervescent SATB chorus is from Arthur Sullivan’s much-loved operetta, The Mikado. It celebrates the joyous occasion of a wedding day, urging the fleeting moments of happiness to linger. The lyrics capture a bittersweet acknowledgment of life's inevitable sorrows, but defiantly advocate for revelry and a 'merry madrigal' in the face of passing time. Sullivan’s music perfectly mirrors the text’s blend of ebullience and contemplation, making it an ideal choice for a celebratory concert programme or a lighthearted operatic concert. The English text, full of lighthearted wordplay and charming refrains, makes it accessible and engaging for both performers and audience.
