FAIR AND FEAST Libretto written and assembled by George Barker

Music for Dawn

Baritone God give you good morrow, masters,

Past three of the clock

And a fair morning.

Chorus The drovers are moving Dairy maids moving

Over the hill, over the hill, Over the hill, over the hill,

With whistle and dog, With cheese and eggs and butter and cream,

Over the hill, over the hill. Over the hill, over the hill.

Farmers are moving The crokers are moving

Over the hill, over the hill, Over the hill, over the hill,

On hunters are riding A tribute of Saffron

Over the hill, over the hill. Over the hill, over the hill.

Here's that will challenge all the fair.

Earth, earth, O mother earth,

Acres a-waking, upwards a-growing,

Pregant in corn and plenteous in power.

Scherzo I - The Market

Chorus Oh, 'tis an old butcher, The next is baker,

Let's bring him in, Let's bring him in,

He charge two shilling a pound He charge fourpence a loaf

And think it no sin. And think it no sin.

The next is a publican,

Let's bring him in,

He charge fourpence a quart

And think it no sin

Baritone When he do bring it in

The measure is short,

The top of the pot

Is popped up from the froth.

Soprano Good morrow, Master Chaundler,

There are thieves in your shop,

Look to them quickly

They are filching.

Chorus Filching, filching, filching,

Who's a-filching?

Children Sally's a thief.

Soprano Hold your scrape

You fiddling hussy.

Chorus Babble ye, babble ye, babble ye.

Alto Fling a pisspot on her head.

Soprano Playing all night at whipperginnie.

Children Sally's a thief.

Baritone Tink a tink, Tink a tink,

Have you any work for a tinker?

Chorus Filching, filching, filching,

Who's a-filching?

Chorus Chimney soop, chimney soop,

From bottom to top

No soot shall fall in your porridge pot.

Ripe chestnuts, ripe chestnuts

A good sausage

Go round about the capon.

What do ye lack?

Pins, points, garters.

Any ends of gold or silver?

Rats or mice,

Mice, polecats, weasels,

Any old sows sick of the measles?

Hard white onions,

St. Thomas onions

Broom...Old boots...Old shoes.

Buy a barrel of treacle, very good treacle

Soli & Children I been a-rambling all this night

And sometime of this day;

And now returning back again

I brought you a garland gay.

Chorus Poverty, poverty knocks,

My loom is a-saying all day.

Poverty, poverty knocks,

Old gaffer's too skinny to pay.

Old gaffer's a weaver, And last come the coopers,

Let's bring him in. Let's bring 'em in.

He charge a florin a piece They charge tuppence a hoop

And think it no sin. And think it no sin.

Much mirth and no madness,

All good and no badness.

Well made, well wrought.

Now let us sing,

And we will make an end

With Alleluia.

Interlude

The March

Baritone Oyez, oyez, attend, I pray.

We celebrate St. Blaze today.

Hymn

Chorus With boundless gratitude, illustrious Blaze,

Again we celebrate and speak thy praise.

Thousands to thee, the founder of our art,

With us, great sire, with equal warmth impart.

With breasts inflamed we thus our homage pay

And found thy worth on this thy festal day.

Baritone There's good ale at the sign of the Rose.

Sound trumpet for spoon and fork.

Grace

Chorus Oculi omnium in te sperant Domine, et tu das escam illorum in tempore opportuno.

Gloria tibi Domine. Amen.

Baritone Fall to!

Scherzo II - The Feast

Chorus Venison, gammon, trotters, knuckles, tripe and mutton.

Scallops, dumplings, pomegranates, heronshews,

Quail, cygnets, snipe, peachickens.

Capons, boiled and roasted.

Baritone A toast! Fill your tumblers!

A toast .. Our town,

Fairest of boroughs all!

Chorus Eat drink and be merry!

Night Music

Baritone Praise ye God the Lord.

To bed, ye good people.

Praise ye God the Lord.

Chorus Praise ye God the Lord.

© The George Barker Estate