This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Ca' the Yowes
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs, Folk songs
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Bradley Parese
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Ca' the Yowes by Ralph Vaughan Williams — Lyrics
Ca' the yowes tae the knowes,
Ca' them whar the heather grows,
Ca' them whar the burnie rows,
My bonnie dearie.
Hark, the mavis' e'enin' sang,
Soundin' Cluden's woods amang;
Then a fauldin' let us gang,
My bonnie dearie.
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About Ca' the Yowes
Ralph Vaughan Williams's setting of Ca' the Yowes for SATB choir is a masterful arrangement of a traditional Scottish folk song. The piece opens with the voices imitating the gentle bleating of sheep and the sounds of nature, establishing a pastoral atmosphere. Vaughan Williams weaves the four parts together with rich harmonies and flowing melodic lines, capturing the essence of the original melody while elevating it with his distinctive compositional voice. The English text, sung in Lowland Scots dialect, speaks of rural life, the beauty of the natural world, and a tender declaration of enduring love. This arrangement effectively balances the simplicity of the folk source with sophisticated choral writing, making it a poignant and evocative addition to any concert program.
