Three Mnemonics for SATB chorus a cappella
Texts traditional, adapted by the composerRecordings (below): Counterpoint Chorus, Nathaniel Lew, director, in concert April 8, 2019
Score PDF
I. Months
A mundane calendar rhyme gets an incongruously expressive setting.
Thirty days hath November,
April, June, and September.
Of twenty-eight there is but one,
All the remnant thirty-one.
II. Music (First Lessons)
“Music” imparts two lessons: one on the notes of the treble staff, the other on the sexism embedded in the innocuous mnemonic. As the lyrics digress from the traditional backronym “Every Good Boy Does Fine”, they continue the alphabetic scheme, so that the initial letter of each word is always the pitch being sung.
F-A-C-E: “face”
Every Good Boy Does Fine…Boys Do Fine, Boys Do Good
Good Boys Do Fine, Every Boy Does Fine
Fine Boys, Dull Boys, Good-ol’ Boys, All Boys!
Boys Do Fine, All Boys Do Fine
Every Do-Good Boy’s Fine, Good Boys Do Fine, All Boys Do Fine
Every Do-Good Boy, Every Dog-Gone Boy
Always Boys! Boys! Boys!
…God Dammit: F. that!
Girls!
Fine Girls
Girls Do Fine, Every Girl Does Fine
Girls Better Do Fine, Girls Are Fine!
Every Girl Does Better, Girls Do Even Better, Girls Do Everything Better
Every Girl Better Do Fine
Girls Are Better!…F-A-C-E: “face”
III. Monarchs
“Monarchs” sets to music a schoolroom verse that rattles off the occupants of the English throne, interrupted by a terse couplet memorializing the fates of Henry VIII’s wives.
The Monarchs of EnglandThe Six Wives of Henry VIIIWillie, Willie, Harry, Stee,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three;
One, two, three Neds, Richard Two
Harrys Four, Five, Six...then who?
Edwards Four, Five, Dick the Bad,
Harrys twain, Ned Six (the Lad),
Mary, Bessie, James the Vain,
Charlie, Charlie, James again,
Will and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Georges four, Will Four, Victoria,
Edward Seven, George and Ted,
George the Sixth, Liz till she’s dead.Divorced, beheaded, died,
Divorced, beheaded, survived.