Can someone out there help me to source a free pdf download of sheet
music to an old song, "Ora Pro Nobis" (or "Oro Pro Nobis")? My
friend's great-aunt used to sing it in a church choir more than 70
years ago. These are some of the lyrics:


"Out of the dark and dreary street
Out of the cold and driving sleet
Into the church the fold had gone
Leaving the orphaned child alone

Tattered and so forlorn was she
They crossed themselves as they passed
To see so frail a child in that grievous plight
On such a relentless and stormy night."

Sad, isn't it?! I'd be really grateful for your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by willie-ga on 03 Oct 2002 03:15 PDT

I've found it in .tiff format. Would that be acceptable?

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Clarification of Question by stressedmum-ga on 03 Oct 2002 04:29 PDT

Sure, if I'll be able to print it out okay. Thanks!

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Request for Question Clarification by willie-ga on 03 Oct 2002 04:38 PDT

I won't post this as an official answer until I know it's OK, but have a look at 
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/sm1883.00523  and let me know if I'm getting close

Willie

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Clarification of Question by stressedmum-ga on 03 Oct 2002 04:43 PDT

Hi Willie, and thanks for trying to help me out here. I'm afraid that
the "Ora Pro Nobis" you found doesn't seem to be a vocal piece. I'm
looking for the song itself (with all the lyrics and the melody).

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Request for Question Clarification by willie-ga on 03 Oct 2002 06:49 PDT

OK, I've got the bit between my teeth now, and I'm on the trail of it,
waiting for a reply to an email. I'll keep you posted.

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Request for Question Clarification by willie-ga on 10 Oct 2002 07:09 PDT

I believe I've found your sheet music, in a library collection. It's
available as a photocopy.

Photocopy fees are $5.00 plus 25 cents per page. A bill is sent with
the photocopied sheet music and checks are payable to the Library.

Would the details be acceptable as an answer for you?

Willie

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Clarification of Question by stressedmum-ga on 10 Oct 2002 08:21 PDT

Hi Willie, yes, that sounds okay. Will they send it to Australia
though? Or can they send it as a PDF? Anyway, I'll be happy to sort
that side of things out with them if they've got the right piece of
music! Thanks very much.

OK, I've finally tracked it down

Here's what to ask for:

The sheet music of Ora Pro Nobis - M. Piccolomini - A. Horspool - G.
Schirmer
from the Frank Gullo sheet music collection 

Here's the contact info:

email: special.collections@millersville.edu (FAO Marilyn Parrish )

Marilyn Parrish
Special Collections & University Archives
Helen A. Ganser Library
Millersville University
Millersville, Pennsylvania 17551-0302
(717) 872-3624
Fax (717) 872-3854

As I said before, photocopy fees are $5.00 plus 25 cents per page. A
bill is sent with the photocopied sheet music and checks are payable
to Friends of Ganser Library. They do advertise a scanning service,
but they don't state costs, so it would be best to ask her.

I've also appended my correspondence with her - you'll see that I
asked if it was the popular song, with the lyrics you asked for, and
she said yes.

They are a busy library, so don't panic if they don't reply straight
away. :)

Hope you get it.

Willie


>The sheet music is for the popular song with the lyrics you
indicated.
>Please let me know if you would like to have it photocopied.
Photocopy fees
>are $5.00 plus 25 cents per page. A bill is sent with the photocopied
sheet
>music and checks are payable to Friends of Ganser Library.
>
>Marilyn Parrish
>Special Collections & University Archives
>Helen A. Ganser Library

>-----Original Message-----
>From: William Meikle 
>Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 9:49 AM
>To: special.collections@millersville.edu
>Subject: Ora Pro Nobis - sheet music
>
>
>I notice from your Frank Gullo sheet music collection that you have
the
>following score 
>
>Ora Pro Nobis - M. Piccolomini - A. Horspool - G. Schirmer
>
>Could you tell me please, is this the latin hymn, or is it the
popular song
>with the lyrics 
>
>"Out of the dark and dreary street 
>Out of the cold and driving sleet 
>Into the church the fold had gone 
>Leaving the orphaned child alone "
>
>I am writing on behalf of someone who is searching for the score of
the popular
>song, and they will purchase a copy of the score if it is that one
>
>Thanks for your time
>
>Willie Meikle

I'm really impressed at your tenacity, Willie. I thought you'd
forgotten about it, but all the time you had it under control I am so
pleased to finally have this piece of music at last.I've requested it
from the library and I'll await their response. I now plan to learn it
quickly and record it at a friend's studio and give it to my other
friend as a surprise. Hope it's a pleasant one for all of us! Thanks
again for your help. You're a legend, Willie!