Sullivan, Arthur - I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General
Sheet music for Euphonium

Play (or use space bar on your keyboard) Pause Music Playalong - Piano Accompaniment transpose reset tempo print settings full screen




Download Score PDF
(8notes Premium)

About 'I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General'

Born:
1842 , Lambeth, London
Died:
1900 , London
The Artist:
The musical half of the popular light opera team. Gilbert and Sullivan between them wrote such popular pieces as The Mikado, HMS Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance
Composed:
1879
Info:
"I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" (often referred to as the "Major-General's Song" or "Modern Major-General's Song") is a patter song from Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. It is sung by Major-General Stanley at his first entrance, towards the end of Act I. The song satirises the idea of the "modern" educated British Army officer of the latter 19th century. It is one of the most difficult patter songs to perform, due to the fast pace and tongue-twisting nature of the lyrics.


I am the very model of a modern Major-General,
I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical;a
I'm very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical,
I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical,
About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news, (bothered for a rhyme)
With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

I'm very good at integral and differential calculus;
I know the scientific names of beings animalculous:
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's;
I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox,
I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus,
In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous;
I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies,
I know the croaking chorus from The Frogs of Aristophanes!
Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore, (bothered for a rhyme)b
And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore.

Then I can write a washing bill in Babylonic cuneiform,
And tell you ev'ry detail of Caractacus's uniform:c
In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.

In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin",
When I can tell at sight a Mauser rifle from a Javelin,d
When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at,
And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat",
When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery,
When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery
In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy (bothered for a rhyme)
You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee.e

For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury,
Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century;
But still, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral,
I am the very model of a modern Major-General.
Score Type:
Arrangement for Euphonium and piano
Score Key:
Eb major (Sounding Pitch) (View more Eb major Music for Euphonium )
Tempo Marking:
= 180 Allegro Vivace (View more music marked Allegro)
Duration:
2:55
Time Signature:
4/4 (View more 4/4 Music)
Range:
Bb3-Eb5
Number of Pages:
3
Difficulty:
Easy Level: Recommended for Beginners with some playing experience
Instrument:
Copyright:
© Copyright 2000-2024 Red Balloon Technology Ltd (8notes.com)
 
This piece is included in the following :
Pieces in 4-4 Time Signature
Pieces in 4-4 Time Signature



Close X

Thank you for trying the 8notes.com Audio & Transposition features

You have reached your limit for today.
Join 8notes PREMIUM for unlimited playback & transpositions
Individual Subscriptions:

Click here for more info on 8notes PREMIUM


© 2000-2024 8notes.com