Sumer Is Icumen In

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer_Is_Icumen_In
Modified by Robert Ford
“Sumer Is Icumen In” (also called the Summer Canon and the Cuckoo Song) is a medieval English round or rota of the mid-13th century  song  – – a celebration of  summer.
The title translates approximately to “Summer Has Come In” or “Summer Has Arrived”.  The composer’s identity is unknown.    The British Library now retains this manuscript (Millett 2003a).

First line of the manuscript.

In this work, you  will first hear  a “ground”  in the lower voices – repeated phrases  which support the  round  sung above. One person begins at the same time as those who sing the ground. When he comes to the first note after the cross  (see  figure below) which marks the end of the first bar, another singer is to begin, and the others follow..

“Sumer Is Icumen In” in modern notation:

  Note he difference between the Middle English and the Modern  English language below.

Middle English

Svmer is icumen in
Lhude sing cuccu
Groweþ sed
and bloweþ med
and springþ þe wde nu
Sing cuccu

Awe bleteþ after lomb
lhouþ after calue cu
Bulluc sterteþ
bucke uerteþ

murie sing cuccu
Cuccu cuccu
Wel singes þu cuccu
ne swik þu nauer nu

Sing cuccu nu • Sing cuccu.
Sing cuccu • Sing cuccu nu (Millett 2003b)

Modern English

Summer[a] has arrived,
Sing loudly, cuckoo!
The seed is growing
And the meadow is blooming,
And the wood is coming into leaf now,
Sing, cuckoo!

The ewe is bleating after her lamb,
The cow is lowing after her calf;
The bullock is prancing,
The billy-goat farting,

Sing merrily, cuckoo!
Cuckoo, cuckoo,
You sing well, cuckoo,
Never stop now.

Sing, cuckoo, now; sing, cuckoo;
Sing, cuckoo; sing, cuckoo, now! (Millett 2003d)