In what G & S operatta dis the song appear that start: "A prodigy of learning"? |
Request for Question Clarification by
efn-ga
on
18 Jul 2005 18:37 PDT
I have not been able to find this phrase in the libretti of fourteen
Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Can you provide any more information,
such as why you think there is such a song?
Thanks,
--efn
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Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
18 Jul 2005 19:01 PDT
The line "Oh, man of learning" appears near the beginning of a song in
"Trial by Jury." "Maid" or "fount" can be substituted in place of
"man" where the character is played by a woman.
"'That Seems a Reasonable Proposition'" [Trial by Jury]
Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/trial/webopera/tbj11.html
"Trial by Jury in Performance (Continued): Casting a Female Counsel"
Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/trial/discussion/tr4-2.html
If you believe this is the answer, please let me know, so that I may
post in the Answer space.
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Clarification of Question by
prcync-ga
on
20 Jul 2005 19:11 PDT
My english mother would sing it to me and told me was was from G&S.I
think the words are:
A prodigy of learning I am versed in every olocy
and deep in all the classic whether hebrew latin greek
( a line a cannot remember)
and read egyptian oberlisks as soon as i could speak
by 10 years old i'd mastered every detail of astronomy
and knew the names and qualities of 20 million stars
.............................................
.................jupiter and mars
........................................
persued a persian version of the ninovite cosmonogy
and paraphrased confusious in pare-adamite chinese
obviously, since i learned this 70 years ago, i have forgotten some of the lines
which, of course, is the reason for my search. it is hard to believe it is
not G&S
Paul Collins
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Request for Question Clarification by
websearcher-ga
on
20 Jul 2005 19:19 PDT
Hi prcync:
The only Gilbert and Sullivan song that I know that even comes close
is "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" from The Pirates of
Penzance.
While the actual lyrics are quite distorted from what you remember,
i'm pretty sure this is the song your mother was singing to you.
The lyrics can be found at:
I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General
URL: http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/iamtheve.htm
Is that the one?
websearcher
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Request for Question Clarification by
justaskscott-ga
on
20 Jul 2005 19:35 PDT
Was your mother ever associated with a Gilbert and Sullivan or other
light opera group? If so, do you know the name? Perhaps that
information will help us to track down the origin. (My current guess
is that this song is a parody of a Gilibert and Sullivan song, perhaps
"I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General" as websearcher
suggests.)
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