Of all the instruments, Z 263 (Henry Purcell)

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• (Posted 2012-08-27)  CPDL #27007: 

Editor: Christopher Shaw (submitted 2012-08-27).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 70 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition comprises this catch in both abbreviated and fully written-out formats. Please click on the link for preview/playback/PDF download. Also included in 10 catches & A catch by way of an epistle.

General Information

Title: Of all the instruments
Composer: Henry Purcell
Lyrics: Anon

Number of voices: 3vv   Voicing: TTT
Genre: Secular, Canon

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1693

Description: The humour of this item derives not from revealed obscenity (unless a "wet zingle" is an obscure term of sexual reference) but from the (even more) nugatory device of onomatopoeia.

Original text and translations

English text

Of all the instruments that are,
None can with the viol compare.
Mark how the strings their order keep,
With a "whet, whet, whet" and a "sweep, sweep, sweep".
But above all, this still abounds,
With a "Zingle, zing" and a "zit zat zounds".