The hardy Norseman's house of yore (Robert Lucas Pearsall)

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• (Posted 2019-11-27)  CPDL #56092:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2019-11-27).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 82 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: ATTB version.

• (Posted 2019-11-27)  CPDL #56086:         

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2019-11-27).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 80 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: SATB version.

General Information

Title: The hardy Norseman's house of yore
Composer: Robert Lucas Pearsall
Lyricist: Robert Lucas Pearsall

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicings: SATB or ATTB
Genre: Secular, Partsong

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard introduction

First published: 1840
    2nd published: 1877 in Novello's Part-Song Book (2nd series), Vol. 10, no. 284
Description: Pearsall writes, "This melody was given to me by the late Joseph Panny, of Vienna, who heard it at a family festival, in the interior of Norway, and noted it on the spot. It was there described to him as a very ancient popular song, referable to the times of the Kemplona or Sea Kings, and as being always sung with the greatest enthusiasm. The words, for want of better, are my own, founded on a rough guess at what the original Norse might mean; for, being able to make out but a word or two hear and there, I could not pretend to translate it."

Original text and translations

English text

The hardy Norseman's house, of yore,
Was on the foaming wave!
And there he gathered bright renown,
The bravest of the brave!
Oh! ne'er should we forget our sires,
Wherever we may be!
They bravely won a gallant name,
And ruled the stormy sea.

What though our power be weaker now
Than it was wont to be,
When boldly forth our fathers sailed,
And conquered Normandie.
We still may sing their deeds of fame,
In thrilling harmony;
For they did win a gallant name,
And ruled the stormy sea.