Pelton (or Felton) lonnin’ (William Whittaker)

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• (Posted 2023-12-20)  CPDL #78384:     

Editor: David Anderson (submitted 2023-12-20).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 505 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Pelton (or Felton) lonnin’
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)
Arranger: William Whittaker
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong, Folksong

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1914 Stainer & Bell
Description:  Note by Whittaker: Northumbrian or Small-Pipes differ widely from their better-known brethren from the land north of the Cheviots. They are smaller, and are blown by a small pair of bellows under the arm of the performer. The tone is sweet and soft; it is unfitted for the hills and the moors, and is more appropriate to the fireside of the humble peasant. As the end of the “chanter” is closed, staccato-playing is possible, and this, together with the ease and effectiveness of quick running passages and all manner of ornamentation, has caused much of this pipe-music to become quite definitely characteristic. Northumberland can still boast of some forty performers on these instruments. More than one set of words have been sung to this pipe tune, but the nonsense rhyme used in this setting seems most appropriate to its gay and irresponsible lilt.

Original text and translations

English text

The swine came jumpin’ down Pelton lonnin’,
There’s five black swine, and ne-ver an odd-’n.

There’s three in the dyke, and two in the lonnin’,
That’s five black swine and never an odd-’n.