Origin: Traditional English folk song (19th century)
Difficulty: Intermediate
Notes Used: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C (high), D (high)
Time Signature: 4/4
Key: D Major
A beautiful English folk song with a gentle, flowing melody. The song tells of lost love with melancholy grace.
Traditional opening verse:
Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing in the valley below.
Oh, don't deceive me, oh never leave me,
How could you use a poor maiden so?
Practice the opening leap and ascent to high D.
Master the graceful descending phrase.
Practice the stepwise ascending and descending pattern.
Practice moving smoothly through the full octave.
Put together the entire melody.
Early One Morning is a traditional English folk song that became widely known in the 19th century, though it may have earlier origins. The melody has a distinctly English pastoral quality, evoking the countryside at dawn. The song is a lament sung by a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover, and its bittersweet melody perfectly captures the mixture of beauty and sadness in the lyrics. The tune has remained popular in English folk music and is often included in collections of traditional songs. Its accessible melody and expressive character make it ideal for recorder players developing their interpretive skills.
Once you can play Early One Morning confidently, try: