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No. 7 - Finale Act I

MIDI File

Contaltos & Basses: Boom!
Sopranos & Tenors: Boom!
Contraltos & Basses: Boom!
Sopranos & Tenors: Boom!
Contraltos & Basses: Boom!
Sopranos & Tenors: Boom!
Contraltos & Basses:  Boom!
Ensemble: The great alarm bell sounds,
With customary clatter,
The great alarm bell sounds,
Now what can be the grounds,
And what can be the cause
Of this unseemly ringing,
'Tis never rung without good cause,
What tidings is it bringing?
Pumpernickel & Aufpassen:
  We have pounced like hawk and eagle,
On some lovers most illegal.
Chorus: Arrest them! Arrest them!
Greta & Marie: What! Arrest us?
Duke Rodolph: With a manner that is properly imperious,
I demand an explanation,
This appears to be transgression very serious,
I command elucidation.
Speak the truth about this matter so mysterious!
Speak without exaggeration;
To the culprit so apparently delirious
I'll deal out incarceration.
Aufpassen: This couple were embracing,
which of course was very shady;
I thought it was a shameful exhibition.
Pumpernickel: To which I'd like to add, my lord,
that this especial lady is mine,
I had your personal permission.
Marie: What! marry him? No, no!
Greta: My lord, it is not so,
This charge is false, a shameful accusation;
Pray list, lord Duke, to this my explanation.
It happened I some trifling service rendered,
Marie: Yes, yes, a little act of kindness rendered.
Greta: And she, my lord, was thanking me;
Marie: Expressing gratitude, you see.
Rodolph: Oh, ho! indeed? Then tell straightway,
What was this "trifling service" pray?
Greta: Otto! to speak would implicate him.
Marie: Otto! from this I'll extricate him.
Greta: My lord, I cannot speak.
Marie: Nor I.
Otto: Aha! I see;
My lord, if you will grant me leave I can explain.
Chorus: He can explain.
Otto: To see the lady Marie grieve would give me pain.
If you'll permit.
Rodolph: Silence, presumptuous youth,
Nor dare to prate about the laws of this our noble state.
Speak, knave, your name, your bus'ness, your motto?
Otto: The "well beloved" seeker, I Prince Otto.
Rodolph: Ha! is it so? Out then you go!
Chorus: Out you go, out you go.
Married!
Greta: What! I marry her?
Marie: What! I marry him?
Greta (to Marie): Do not be afraid,
When I tell you all, you'll have no cause for despairing!
Your laws, Oh Duke, are ultra in severity,
Although I doubt not you have found you need 'em.
You deal with lovers with undue asperity,
We're only guilty of a slight temerity.
Reflect, oh noble Duke, and give us freedom,
Reflect, oh noble Duke, and give us freedom,
Your laws, Oh Duke, are ultra in severity,
Reflect, oh noble Duke, and give us freedom!
What is the song that thou singest for ever?
What is the message thou givest to me?
Fain would I follow thee, wonderful river,
Fain would I follow thee onto the sea.
All: What is the song that thou singest for ever?
What is the message thou givest to me?
Fain would I follow thee, wonderful river,
Fain would I follow thee onto the sea.
Follow thee, follow thee!

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Page modified 14 March 2017