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Origin: A Little Ship Was on the Sea (D A Thrupp)

12 Jan 01 - 03:21 AM (#373198)
Subject: Tune ID: A little ship - If you believe
From: Haruo

Can anybody identify for me the secular textual antecedents and/or tune name of the music for the early 1800s children's hymn "A little ship was on the sea" by Dorothy Ann Thrupp. Or how about the complete Thrupp text (I don't think it's in The Cyber Hymnal). The same tune is found in some current hymnals with the purportedly Zimbabwean text
If you believe and I believe and we together pray,
The holy spirit must come down and set God's people free.
And set God's people free, and set God's people free,

The holy spirit must come down and set God's people free.

I am quite sure that this is a folk or folk-based tune, but I don't know what the earlier words were. I feel the tune is genetically related somehow to both "Malbrouck" (The Bear Went Over the Mountain) and "Seven Joys", but not identical to either in the forms I'm familiar with.

¡Muchísimas gracias!
Liland

12 Jan 01 - 03:33 AM (#373201)
Subject: html correction : ignore
From: Haruo

07 Apr 06 - 05:56 PM (#1712796)
Subject: Lyr Add: A LITTLE SHIP WAS ON THE SEA (D A Thrupp)
From: GUEST,dash1uk@hotmail.com

SSH 023 A little ship was on the sea
Words by D.A.Thrupp,1840

1.A little ship was on the sea,
It was a pretty sight;
It sailed along so pleasantly,
And all was calm and bright.

2.When lo! A storm began to rise,
The wind grew loud and strong;
It blew the clouds across the skies,
It blew the waves along.

3.And all, but One, were sore afraid
Of sinking in the deep;
His head was on a pillow laid,
And He was fast asleep.

4."Master, we perish: Master save!"
They cried: their Master heard;
He rose, rebuked the wind and wave,
And stilled them with a word.

5.He to the storm say's, "Peace, be still!"
The raging billows cease:
The mighty winds obey His will,
And all are hushed to peace.

6.Oh, well we know it was the Lord,
Our Saviour and our Friend:
Whose care of those who trust His word
Will never, never end.


Suggested Tune:
Tune: A Little Ship
Taken from Carols for use in Church by Rev. R. R. Chope, 1894

08 Apr 06 - 12:36 PM (#1713199)
Subject: RE: Tune ID: A little ship - If you believe
From: masato sakurai

Sheet Music from Chope is HERE. The tune is different.

The following is from Gordon Avery, ed., Companion to The Song Book of The Salvation Army (Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, 1961). No mention of the tune.:
841. A little ship was on the sea (Dorothy Ann Thrupp)

The Young Soldier, July 1, 1899, where it is stated to be 'No. 44 in Young Soldier Song Book'.
Daughter of Joseph Thrupp of Paddington Green, London, Miss Thrupp (1779-1847) wrote a number of hymns and herself edited Hymns for the Young about 1830.

08 Apr 06 - 12:57 PM (#1713209)
Subject: RE: Tune ID: A little ship - If you believe
From: masato sakurai

Sounds like The Lincolnshire Poacher, but not exactly the same.

08 Apr 06 - 01:25 PM (#1713235)
Subject: RE: Tune ID: A little ship - If you believe
From: Joe Offer

Companion to The Song Book of The Salvation Army?? Do you mean to tell us that you have that in your library, Masato? You never cease to amaze me.
-Joe-

08 Apr 06 - 01:55 PM (#1713242)
Subject: RE: Tune ID: A little ship - If you believe
From: masato sakurai

Joe, yes. But the song is not in The The Song Book of The Salvation Army (American edition) (The Salvation Army National Headquarters, 1987).