The Pirates of Penzance (Sullivan, Arthur)

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Publisher. Info. Holograph manuscript, 1879.
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Misc. Notes This file is part of the Submission Project.
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Copyist George Baird (1835–1905)
Unknown second copyist
Publisher. Info. Manuscript, 1879.
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Misc. Notes Identified as being in the hand of George Baird and another unknown copyist, potentially one of his sons (Sullivan's diary says that Baird "and his son" — which could be George Frederick Baird (1861–1936), Charles B. Baird (1863–1932), known to be a music copyist, or Frederick Charles Harry Baird (1864–1943) — were his copyists all his life), or perhaps Frederick Solomon, brother of Edward Solomon, and at the time a copyist for D'Oyly Carte, according to David Russell Hulme. This file is part of the Submission Project.
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Copyist François Cellier (1849–1914)
Publisher. Info. Manuscript, 1879.
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Misc. Notes Identified as being in F. Cellier's hand by David Russell Hulme. This file is part of the Submission Project.
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Copyist John Bauser (b. 1949)
Woody Norvell (b. 1948)
Publisher. Info. New York: E.F. Kalmus, No.A2454, n.d.(1986–94).
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Editor Karl Paulsson
Publisher. Info. Karl Paulsson
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Editor Karl Paulsson
Publisher. Info. Karl Paulsson
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Misc. Notes *No staves for vocal soli or chorus
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Overture

Copyist John Bauser (b. 1949)
Woody Norvell (b. 1948)
Publisher. Info. New York: E.F. Kalmus, No.A2430, n.d.(1986–94).
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Editor Corelle Quentin
Angus Armstrong
Publisher. Info. Corelle Quentin and Angus Armstrong
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Misc. Notes Typeset from existing IMSLP manuscript
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Editor Matteo Ressa (b. 2000)
Publisher. Info. Matteo Ressa, 2024.
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Parts

Complete

11 more: Oboe • Clarinet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Bassoon • Horn 1/2 (F) • Cornet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Trombone 1/2 • Timpani/Triangle/Snare Drum/Bass Drum/Cymbals • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos/Basses

Publisher. Info. London: Chappell / D'Oyly Carte Opera Co., n.d.(ca.1920).
Reprinted New York: E.F. Kalmus, n.d.(1933–70). Catalog A2454.
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Publisher. Info. London: Chappell / D'Oyly Carte Opera Co., n.d.(ca.1920).
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Misc. Notes This version has the original final page with the 9 bars before R and the 9 after. The one here has an edited and incorrect final page.
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Editor Karl Paulsson
Publisher. Info. Karl Paulsson
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Overture

11 more: Oboe • Clarinet 1/2 (A/B♭) • Bassoon • Horn 1/2 (F) • Cornet 1/2 (A) • Timpani/Triangle/Snare Drum/Bass Drum/Cymbals • Trombone 1/2 • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos/Basses

Publisher. Info. London: Chappell / D'Oyly Carte Opera Co., n.d.(ca.1920).
Reprinted New York: E.F. Kalmus, n.d.(1933–70). Catalog A2430.
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21 more: Flute 2/Piccolo • Oboe • Clarinet 1 (A/B♭) • Clarinet 2 (A/B♭) • Bassoon • Horn 1 (F) • Horn 2 (F) • Trumpet 1 (A) • Trumpet 1 (B♭) • Trumpet 2 (A) • Trumpet 2 (B♭) • Trombone 1 • Trombone 2 • Timpani • Cymbals/Triangle • Bass Drum/Snare Drum • Violins I • Violins II • Violas • Cellos • Basses

Editor Matteo Ressa (b. 2000)
Publisher. Info. Matteo Ressa, 2024.
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Vocal Scores

Complete

Editor First edition (later printing)
Publisher. Info. London: Chappell & Co., n.d. Plate 17,000.
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Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
This copy was printed after 1894.
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Language English
Publisher. Info. New York: Hitchcock Publishing Co., 1880.
Copyright claimant is J.M. Stoddart & Co. of Philadelphia.
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Misc. Notes Foliation: (iii, 139, ad). Last music page missing from scans
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Language English
Publisher. Info. Philadelphia: J.M. Stoddart & Co., 1880.
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Misc. Notes Includes duplicate pages
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Publisher. Info. New York: A.W. Tams Music Library, 1901. Plate 118.
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Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project.
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Editor Bryceson Treharne
Publisher. Info. New York: Schirmer, n.d.(ca.1940). Plate 38710.
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Misc. Notes This score is in the public domain in the US because it was published with no copyright notice. Full dialogue included.
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Editor D. Benjamin Miller
Publisher. Info. D. Benjamin Miller
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Misc. Notes With reduction for piano; libretto available in separate file. File revised December 29, 2023.
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Editor James Cooper
Publisher. Info. Troupers Light Opera, 2022.
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Voices only, without piano reduction

Editor Karl Paulsson
Publisher. Info. Karl Paulsson
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Misc. Notes *Vocal and Chorus score (no piano reduction)
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Chorus only, without piano reduction

Editor Bryceson Treharne (1879–1948)
Publisher. Info. New York: Schirmer, n.d. Plate 41297.
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Misc. Notes This file is part of the Sibley Mirroring Project. Chorus Score Only (no piano reduction)
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Waltz Song: "Poor Wandering One" (Act I, No.8)

Language English
Publisher. Info. Boston: White, Smith & Co., 1881. Plate 4061-4.
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Modern Major General (Act I, No.13)

Publisher. Info. Boston: White, Smith & Co., 1880. Plate W.S. 3873.
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Arrangements and Transcriptions

Selections

For Theater Orchestra (Cox)
Arranger John Summers Cox
Publisher. Info. Theatrical and Dance Journal, No.85
Philadelphia: J.W. Pepper, 1881.
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Misc. Notes The publisher would also have made available parts for clarinet 2, 2 horns, drums (often including triangle), cello, and piano ad lib. See the cornet/piano arrangement for the possible piano part.
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For Cornet and Piano (Stobbe)
Arranger William R. Stobbe
Publisher. Info. Classic Cornet Solos with Piano Accompaniment, No.90
Philadelphia: J.W. Pepper, 1881.
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Misc. Notes The arrangement appears to mirror Cox's arrangement for orchestra and, if so, the piano part would be identical to the ad lib. piano part for Cox's arrangement.
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For Piano 4 hands (Cramer)
Arranger Henri Cramer (1818–1877)
Publisher. Info. USA: T. A. Bacher, 1881. Plate 3137-16 x.
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Overture

For Piano 4 hands (Hurley)
Arranger E.G. Hurley
Publisher. Info. Baltimore: George Willig & Co., 1881. Plate 3923.
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For Piano (Tours)
Arranger Berthold Tours (1838–1897)
Publisher. Info. Wereon
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Misc. Notes Typeset in Lilypond from the 1880 score of J.M. Stoddart & Co.
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A Policeman's Lot

For 3 Viols (Folop)

4 more: Engraving files (Personal composer) • Treble Viol 1 • Treble Viol 2 • Bass Viol

Arranger Albert Folop
Publisher. Info. Albert Folop
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Misc. Notes These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection, and are also included in the Folop Viol Music Collection.
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Librettos

Editor D. Benjamin Miller
Publisher. Info. D. Benjamin Miller
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Free Recordings

General Information

Work Title The Pirates of Penzance
Alternative. Title The Slave of Duty
Name Translations Пираты Пензанса; Piraci z Penzance; Die Piraten von Penzance; 彭贊斯的海盜; 班戰斯的海盜 (歌劇); [5 more...]班战斯的海盗 (歌剧); ペンザンスの海賊; הפיראטים מפנזנץ; دزدان دریایی پنزانس; 班战斯的海盗
Name Aliases Os Piratas de Penzance; Os piratas de penzance; The pirates of penzance; O Escravo do Dever; The Pirates Of Penzance; [5 more...]Pirates of Penzance; 班戰斯的海盜; 彭赞斯的海盗; 彭讚斯的海盜; 彭讚斯的海盗
Authorities WorldCat; Wikipedia; VIAF: 184280912; LCCN: n80040729; GND: 300159129; BNF: 14019521f
Composer Sullivan, Arthur
Internal Reference NumberInternal Ref. No. IAS 60
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 2 acts:
  • Overture
"With cat-like tread" -
"Ah, leave me not to pine" -
"Pray observe the magnanimity" -
"When you had left our pirate fold" -
"Climbing over rocky mountain" -
"How beautifully blue the sky"
  • Act I
1. "Pour, oh pour, the pirate sherry" (Samuel and Chorus of Pirates)
2. "When Fred'ric was a little lad" (Ruth)
3. "Oh, better far to live and die" (Pirate King and Chorus of Pirates)
4. "Oh! false one, you have deceiv'd me" (Frederic and Ruth)
5. "Climbing over rocky mountain" (Chorus of Girls)
6. "Stop, ladies, pray" (Edith, Kate, Frederic, and Chorus of Girls)
7. "Oh, is there not one maiden breast?" (Frederic and Chorus of Girls)
8. "Poor wand'ring one" (Mabel and Chorus of Girls)
9. "What ought we to do?" (Edith, Kate, and Chorus of Girls)
10. "How beautifully blue the sky" (Mabel, Frederic, and Chorus of Girls)
11. "Stay, we must not lose our senses" ... "Here's a first-rate opportunity to get married with impunity"
(Frederic and Chorus of Girls and Pirates)
12. "Hold, monsters" (Mabel, Major-General, Samuel, and Chorus)
13. "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" (Major-General and Chorus)
14. Finale Act I (Mabel, Kate, Edith, Ruth, Frederic, Samuel, King, Major-General, and Chorus)
"Oh, men of dark and dismal fate"
"I’m telling a terrible story"
"Hail, Poetry"
"Oh, happy day, with joyous glee"
"Pray observe the magnanimity" (reprise of "Here's a first-rate opportunity")
  • Act II
15. "Oh, dry the glist'ning tear" (Mabel and Chorus of Girls)
16. "Then, Frederic, let your escort lion-hearted" (Frederic and Major-General)
17. "When the foeman bares his steel" (Mabel, Edith, Sergeant, and Chorus of Policemen and Girls)
18. "Now for the pirates' lair!" (Frederic, Ruth, and King)
19. "When you had left our pirate fold" [The "paradox" trio] (Ruth, Frederic, and King)
20. "Away, away! My heart's on fire!" (Ruth, Frederic, and King)
21. "All is prepar'd; your gallant crew await you" (Mabel and Frederic)
22. "Stay, Fred'ric, stay" ... "Ah, leave me not to pine" ... "Oh, here is love, and here is truth"
(Mabel and Frederic)
23. "No, I'll be brave" ... "Though in body and in mind"
(Reprise of "When the foeman bares his steel") (Mabel, Sergeant, and Chorus of Police)
23a. "Sergeant, approach!" (Mabel, Sergeant of Police, and Chorus of Police)
24. "When a felon's not engaged in his employment" (Sergeant and Chorus of Police)
25. "A rollicking band of pirates we" (Sergeant and Chorus of Pirates and Police)
26. "With cat-like tread, upon our prey we steal" (Samuel and Chorus of Pirates and Police)
27. "Hush, hush, not a word!" (Frederic, King, Major-General, and Chorus of Police and Pirates)
28. Finale, Act II (Ensemble)
"Sighing softly to the river"
"Now what is this, and what is that?"
"You/We triumph now"
"Away with them, and place them at the bar!"
"Poor wandering ones!"
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1879
First Performance. 1879-12-31 — New York: Fifth Avenue Theatre.
First Publication. 1880 (October) - London: Chappell
Librettist William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)
Language English
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Romantic
Piece Style Romantic
Instrumentation voices, mixed chorus (SATB), orchestra
InstrDetail [more...]
Cast
Major-General Stanley (comic baritone)
The Pirate King (bass-baritone)
Samuel, his Lieutenant (baritone)
Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice (tenor)
Sergeant of Police (bass)
General Stanley's daughters
Mabel (soprano)
Edith (mezzo-soprano)
Kate (mezzo-soprano)
Isabel (speaking role)
Ruth, a Piratical Maid of all work (contralto)

Mixed Chorus (SATB)

Chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley's Daughters

Orchestra

2 flutes (2nd also piccolo), oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon
2 horns, 2 cornets, 2 trombones
timpani, triangle, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, strings
Discography Gilbert & Sullivan Discography
Manuscript Sources Autograph full score: US-NYpm
External Links Wikipedia article
Gilbert & Sullivan Archive
Scores at Sheet Music Plus

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