Glee (music)
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A glee is a part song scored for at least three unaccompanied voices, normally male. This was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, later giving rise to the term 'Glee club' to describe the type of ensemble which performs glees. Glees were traditionally drinking songs or songs that expressed fraternal sentiments. As Glee Clubs became popular in colleges in the United States, composers of glees tailored songs to the sensibilities of college students.
As Glee Clubs began to resemble more standard choirs in the 20th century, the tradition of singing glees has faded, and they are easily parodied as "old-fashioned."
Glees should not be confused with traditional college songs or fight songs, although those can have many of the same characteristics of glees.
[edit] Example of a Glee
A notable example of a Glee is Glorious Apollo, a composition by Samuel Webbe from the early 1800s that took root with the Harvard Glee Club, the oldest such group in America. The Harvard group still sings this song. Its lyrics are a good example of the typical ideas expressed by a glee, from the tongue-in-cheek collegiate references to Greek mythology, to the fraternal notion expressed by "unity and joy," to the nature of the song being about singing.
Glorious Apollo
Glorious Apollo from on high beheld us,
Wand'ring to find a temple for his praise.
Sent Polyhymnia hither to shield us,
While we ourselves such a structure might raise.
Thus then combining hands and hears joining,
Sing we in harmony Apollo's praise.
Here ev'ry gen'rous sentiment awaken,
Music inspiring unity and joy.
Each social pleasure giving and partaking,
Glee and good humour our hours employ.
Thus than combining hands and hearts joining,
Long may continue our unity and joy.
[edit] See also
- Choir
- Choral Music
- Glee Club
- Harvard Glee Club
- Penn Glee Club
- University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
- Yale Glee Club
- Cornell Glee Club
- Rutgers Glee Club
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