This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Gitanella
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Gitanella by Charles Gounod — Lyrics
The morn is up, the sun appears,
The grass is wet with heaven’s tears,
And shining bells of tambourines
Sparkle bright in the golden beams!
Merrily dance, merrily sing,
Our castanets with gladness ring!
Come, let us lift our tents and roam;
The trees our roof, the woods our home.
In front, our chieftain, eagle eyed,
Thro’ woods and heath our steps to guide.
Merrily dance, merrily sing,
Our castanets with gladness ring!
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About Gitanella
Charles Gounod’s Gitanella is a vibrant SATB setting of a secular English text, a lively part-song that calls to mind the freedom and joy of a gypsy encampment. The music captures the spirit of the lyrics, which describe a nomadic life filled with dancing, singing, and a carefree existence in nature, far from worldly cares. The text opens with imagery of a bright morning, sparkling with dew and golden sunlight, accompanied by the cheerful sounds of tambourines and castanets. It paints a picture of a people who embrace their wanderlust, finding happiness in their simple, unburdened lives and the beauty of the natural world as their guide. The composer’s setting would likely reflect this exuberance through its melodic invention and rhythmic vitality.
