First performed at the Broadway Theatre, New York, 19 October 1896.

Cast of Characters

Irish Characters

English Characters

MIDI Files

• Prelude

ACT I   -   Wicklow Hills.

• No. 1 - Introduction and Chorus of Fairies - "The world is dreaming, the stars are gleaming, the moonlight streaming, the birds are still.  The dew is weeping..."
• No. 2 - Song - Baby Malone - "Now if I wuz to tell ye the tinder age of me, you wudn't cease to wondher thot a child so large cud be;  no infant had such tresses..."
• No. 3 - Song - O'Connor - "'Twas a glorious day and the fight was done, when a soldier fell on the field he'd won;  he fell where he fought, his sword in his hand..."
• No. 4a - March and Chorus - "We are the guardians of beauty. To watch o'er Elfrida's our duty, though loyal to our land, the Princess doth command our homage..."
• No. 4b - Song - Elfrida and Chorus - "No gold can buy, nor jewels rare one tender sigh of maiden fair.  No crown of King's, no treasure trove such joy e'er brings..."
• No. 5 - Song - Erina - "There's a lad that I know and I know that he speaks softly to me, the cushla machree. He's as straight as a rush and as bright as a stream,"
• No. 6 - Duet - O'Donovan and Erina - "There's a picture in my heart, that naught shall e'er displace;  there's a picture in my heart of a young and lovely face..."
• No. 7 - Chorus - "We're simple Irish colleens, though fond of war-like joys, for our husbands an' our sweethearts are Ireland's sojer bhoys,  Ah!  Ah! ..."
• No. 8 - Song - O'Hara - "Oh, me name is Pat O'Hara, an' Oi'm bothered wid me legs.  'Tis me lift one gives me thruble, an that's worse than twinty plagues..."
• No. 9 - Jig
• No. 10 - Finale - "Strike the harp, raise the voice, sing the song of great Brian, and oft the rapt bard the glad theme shall renew.  In peace mild and bounteous..."

ACT II - The Great Hall of Dublin Castle - (the English Headquarters).

• No. 11 - Male Chorus and Song - Fitz-Stephen - "Sing a merry roundelay..."  &  "An Englishman loves all good things to eat, his interior man most kindly to treat..."
• No. 12 - Ensemble - Erina, Egbert, Fitz. and Edward - "The open gates, their ships at sea, but signs of English treachery;  'twas well I conquered maiden fear..."
• No. 13 - Solo - O'Donovan - "A fool is he who dares to say what fate doth will he must obey;  the life that he shall lead on earth was preordained before his birth..."
• No. 14 - Song - O'Hara - "Paddy had a wondrous pig that gave him good advice;  he bought it from the fairies, a good deed was the price."
• No. 15 - March
• No. 16 - Duet - Elfrida and Brian - "Whene'er you leave, alone I grieve, ah! why away so soon? ... I have done wrong to stay so long.  See now 'tis almost noon..."
• No. 17a - Chorus and Song - Brian - "Brian! Brian! good and true.  Brian, Brian, long life to you! ... Let the sword in the scabbard ring; the helm be laid aside..."
• No. 17b - Valse - Elfrida and Ensemble - "Fill up the loving cup, fill up, fill to the brim;  raise it high, drain it dry, to Brian, drink to him! ..."
• No. 18 - Duet - Baby and O'Hara - "If all the young gels wuz ducks in a lake, if all the young gels wuz ducks in a lake, shure the divil himself 'ud turn into a drake..."
• No. 19 - Finale Act II - "Pride goes before a tumble.  Listen to thim shtumble.  Yis, the coast is clear!  Erina, ye kin enter here ... Quickly, e'er they wake..."

ACT III - Scene 1 - Irish Camp outside of Dublin.   (Afternoon of the same day)

• No. 20 - Chorus - "Clink!  Clank!  Clink!  Clank!  Merrily sing the anvil's lay.  Clink!  Clank!  Clink!  Clank!  Eagerly hearts desire the fray.  Rivet and bolt..."
• No. 21 - Melodrama - "Wirra, weh!  Wirra, weh!  Wirra, wirra, wirra, weh!"
• No. 22 - Solo - O'Connor, with Chorus - "Where is thy heart, oh, Brian the brave?  How couldst thou thy duty forget?  Lost to thy country; to love a weak slave..."
• No. 23 - Melodrama - (after spoken dialogue:) "Strike the harp, raise the voice, sing the song of great Brian, in the hearts of his people lives Brian Boru."
• No. 24 - Solo - Brian and Chorus - "For Ireland! ... For Ireland! ... Unsheathe each trusty sword!  Old Ireland! ... Dear Ireland! ... Shall know no foreign lord..."
• No. 25 - Solo - Erina - "All hope has flown,  I am alone, held in captive chains.  My heart doth sigh, for Brian cry;  nothing now remains but thoughts of him..."

ACT III - Scene 2 - Old Dublin Street, with St. Patrick's Church and View of Dublin Bay.

• No. 26 - Quintette - Baby Malone, O'Hara, Herald and Fitz-Stephen - "Have ony av yez heard av thot lazy bird thot they call the Irish Cuckoo? ..."
• No. 27 - Finale Act III - "For Ireland, for Ireland, unsheathe each trusty sword!  For Ireland, dear Ireland shall know no foreign lord! ..."

External Links

Vocal Score at ISMLP

Julian Edwards at Wikipedia

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 10 October 2016