The Kenneth McKellar thread re-sparked my interest in this beautiful song. There's a free PDF download of the sheet music, courtesy of the good old National Library of Australia (link below) though please note that if you use it, your best bet is to go as far as Page 3, and after "till I die" (the final line of the middle verse) go back to Page 1 and fit the final verse lyrics to that melody line. This is because it's been arranged for soprano/alto duet and later on in the score they screw up (ooooops I mean Improve) the music a bit. For the "pure" version, follow the soprano line until halfway through Page 3, then go back for the repeat.

You can hear Aled Jones' beautiful singing of it on YouTube (superimposed over clips from the TV Robin Hood series) and follow the melody line along on the sheet music while you listen (unless you fancy Guy of Gisborne in black leather). In the final cadence ("glory of golden hair") Aled sings:

B       CB    AG      F# G      G
Glo    ry      of      golden   hair

(written in the key of G to match the sheet music version)

If you have Sibelius software and are registered with them, you can also download a copy of the orchestral score to this aria from their Scorch pages. Many of these items cost a nominal amount, but "Silent Worship" (instrumental only) is free. Melody is in the flutes or violins - it jumps around.

ALED JONES PERFORMANCE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOh_cz8hUY

NLA SHEET MUSIC:

http://nla.gov.au/nla.mus-vn925523

SIBLIUS SCORE (I think you have to own a registered copy of their software to access this):

http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/index.php?sm=home.score&scoreID=90905

You'll also need to download their Scorch programme, but it's free and very quick & easy do do.


On a very different tack, Barry Dransfield also sings this on his latest album Unruly. Listen to clip here (on the Recordings & Sales link):

http://www.barrydransfield.com/pages/sales.htm

Anybody know where I could hear McKellar's version of this song?