music        news/events        bio        contact        recordings Four British Folk Songs 1993 children’s chorus piano  duration 8' commissioned by The North Carolina Children’s Chorus first performance: The North Carolina Children’s Chorus, cond. Marta Force March 1994  SCORE The Ash Grove Widdicombe Fair The Streets of Derry Aiken Drum TEXTS The Ash Grove Down yonder green valley  where streamlets meander, When twilight is fading, I pensively roam. Or at the bright noontide  in solitude wander Amid the dark shades  of the lonely Ash grove. 'Twas there while the blackbird  was cheerfully singing, I first met my dear one,  the joy of my heart; Around us for gladness  the bluebells were ringing, Ah! then little thought I  how soon we would part.  Still glows the bright sunshine o’er valley and mountain, Still warbles the blackbird his note from the tree; Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain, But what are the beauties of nature to me. With sorrow, deep sorrow, my breast it is laden All day I go mourning in search of my love. O, echoes now tell me, where is my sweet maiden? She sleeps 'neath the green turf down by the Ash grove.  traditional (Welsh)  Widdecombe Fair Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare. All along, down along, out along lee. For I be going to Widdecombe Fair, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.  And when shall I see again my grey mare? All along, down along, out along lee. By Friday soon or Saturday noon, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawk, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.  Then Friday came and Saturday noon, All along, down along, out along lee. But Tom Pearce's old mare hath not trotted home, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawk, Jack Steward, Jerry Hawkins, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.  When the wind whistles cold on the moor at night, Tom Pearce's old mare doth appear ghastly white,  And all the long night be heard skirling and groans, From Tom Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones, With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawk, Jack Steward, Jerry Hawkins, Dick Joseph, Harry Hillop, Tom Bowlin, Ben Paxon, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.  traditional (English)  The Streets of Derry Oh it's after morning there comes an evening And after evening another day. And after false love, there comes a true one. It's hard to hold them that will not stay. My love he is the finest young man, As fair as any the sun shone on, But how to save him I do not know it, For he has got a sentence to be hung. As he went walking up the streets of Derry I'm sure he marched up right manfully He was more like a commanding officer Than a man to die on the gallows tree.  What keeps my love, she's so long a-coming? Or what detains her so long from me? Or does she think it a shame or scandal To see me die on the gallows tree? He looked around and he saw her coming As she rode swifter than the wind Come down, come down, off that weary gallows For I bear a pardon from the Queen.  traditional (Irish)  Aiken Drum There was a man lived in the moon, Lived in the moon, lived in the moon. There was a man lived in the moon, And his name was Aiken Drum. And he played upon a ladle, A ladle, a ladle. And he played upon a ladle, And his name was Aiken Drum.  There came a man to our town. To our town, to our town, There came a man to our town, And his name was Aiken Drum. And his hat was made of cream cheese, Of cream cheese, of cream cheese And his hat was made of cream cheese, And his name was Aiken Drum. There was a man lived in the moon, Lived in the moon, lived in the moon. There was a man lived in the moon, And his name was Aiken Drum. And he played upon a razor, A razor, a razor. And he played upon a razor, And his name was Aiken Drum.  traditional (Scottish)