Sparey: A Man's a Man
Monday 16 September 2024
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Carolyn Sparey: A Man's a Man
Robert Burns' moving poem 'A Man's a Man' in Carolyn Sparey's setting, scored for SATB choir and optional piano.
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Difficulty level: ** (out of *****)
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Notes on the piece
Written for Stirling University Choir, and first performed by them at the Kirk of the Holy Rude, Stirling on St Andrew's night, 30th November 2013.
About the text
Notes to come
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The text
Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave – we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.
What though on hamely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;
A Man's a Man for a' that:
For a' that, and a' that,
Their tinsel show, an' a' that;
The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,
Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,
Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;
Tho' hundreds worship at his word,
He's but a coof for a' that:
For a' that, an' a' that,
His ribband, star, an' a' that:
The man o' independent mind
He looks an' laughs at a' that.
A prince can mak a belted knight,
A marquis, duke, an' a' that;
But an honest man's abon his might,
Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!
For a' that, an' a' that,
Their dignities an' a' that;
The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,
Are higher rank than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.
Text: Robert Burns
Music: Carolyn Sparey
Reviews
It's a rare thing to find a musical setting tasteful and evocative enough to sit behind the words of Robert Burns, one that doesn't overshadow or underserve, but which elevates the poetry to a new level.
And this is a rare thing.
Robert Gillies
Graduate of Berklee College of Music, Boston
award-winning singer-songwriter living in San Francisco
I thought it was beautiful.
Member of audience at first performance
