Glee (music)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Glee was a song form used only in England (mostly a cappella and male voices) for three or more voices.

history

The name Glee first appears in Playford's Musical Companion in 1673 .

The first glee club , the Noblemen and Gentlemen's Catch Club of London , was founded in 1761. Glee choral societies became popular in the eighteenth century and continued into the nineteenth. Only men were allowed in these clubs, so the alto parts are regularly sung by male voices. Up until the beginning of the 20th century, the Glee Clubs were one of the few retreats next to the all-male English cathedral choirs, in which countertenors were regularly cast.

This shape was particularly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Well-known composers of the Glee are:

Examples

Two examples by the composer Samuell Webbe.

Glorious Apollo
Glorious Apollo from on high beheld us,
Wand'ring to find a temple for his praise.
Sent Polyhymnia hither to shield us,
While we such a structure might raise.
Thus then combining, hands and hearts joining,
Sing we in harmony Apollo's praise.
Here ev'ry gen'rous sentiment awaking,
Music inspiring unity and joy.
Each social pleasure giving and partaking,
Glee and good humor our hours employ.
Thus then combining, hands and hearts joining,
Long may continue our unity and joy.
Discord!
Discord! Dire sister of the slaughtering power,
Small at her birth, but rising every hour,
While scarce the skies her horrid head can bound,
She stalks on earth, and shakes the world around.
But lovely Peace in angel form
Descending sources the rising storm.
Soft ease and sweet content shall reign
And Discord never rise again.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Barrett: English Glees and Part-songs (2nd ed., Lond. 1889); Baptie: Sketches of (the English) G. composers (Lond. 1896).

literature

  • HG Bonavia Hunt: A Concise History of Music George Bell and Sons, London 1878
  • Frederick J. Crowest: Musical Groundwork , Frederick Warne and Company, London 1890
  • David Baptie: Sketches of (the English) Glee Composers , William Reeves, London 1896