Sullivan, Arthur - The Very Model of a Modern Major General
Sheet music for Voice
Parts
Standard Parts
- Voice
- Piano
- Request Additional Parts
- Request Large Note Part
- Request Part with Chords
MP3
(subscribers only)- Download MP3
- Piano Playalong MP3
- Slow Playalong MP3
- Bb major Transposition
- B major Transposition
- C major Transposition
- C# major Transposition
- D major Transposition
- Eb major Transposition
- E major Transposition
- F major Transposition
- F# major Transposition
- G major Transposition
- Ab major Transposition
- A major Transposition
Info
About 'The Very Model of a Modern Major General'
Artist:
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.
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 Key:
Eb major (Sounding Pitch) (
View more Eb major Music for Voice )

Tempo Marking:
Duration:
2:55
Time Signature:
4/4 (
View more 4/4 Music)

Range:
Bb4-Eb6
Number of Pages:
4
Difficulty:
Easy Level: Recommended for Beginners with some playing experience
Instrument:
Style:
Copyright:
© Copyright 2000-2023 Red Balloon Technology Ltd (8notes.com)
Info
You might also like:
Caro mio ben by Giuseppe Giordano
Santa Lucia by Trad.
A La Nanita Nana (Spanish Traditional) by Trad.
Non Piu Andrai from Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot by Trad.
Les oiseaux dans la charmille (Doll Song) from Les Contes d'Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach
Santa Lucia by Trad.
A La Nanita Nana (Spanish Traditional) by Trad.
Non Piu Andrai from Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot by Trad.
Les oiseaux dans la charmille (Doll Song) from Les Contes d'Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach
Close X
Please subscribe for unlimited playback & transpositions
Click here for more info on subscriptions
Thank you for trying the 8notes.com Audio & Transposition features
You have reached your limit for today.Please subscribe for unlimited playback & transpositions
Click here for more info on subscriptions