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The Dove Song
Words by W. Brough.

Composed for the pantomime Frogge Would A-Wooing Go
staged at the Prince's Theatre, Christmas 1869.

Originally published by Boosey & Co., in 1869.


The Dove Song, reproduced here with the original words by W. Brough was composed expressly for inclusion in Brough's pantomime, Froggee would a-wooing go, produced at the Prince's Theatre, Manchester, Christmas 1869.

The reviewer in The Manchester Guardian of 29th December 1869 wrote: "As they [the fairies] approach they sing the Dove Polka Song, wherein Mr. A. S. Sullivan has caught and retained the airy grace of the scene. The idea was worked out some time ago in the attractive vocal polka, What the bee says to the flow'ret. Mr. Sullivan has produced quite an original and very pleasing embodiment of the same idea."

Another version, with slightly different words by John Oxenford, was also published, and this version is given in the score.

Music cover

Karaoke File


Degas - Ballet Rehearsal
Ballet Rehearsal on Stage
(Edgar Degas)
When sleep descends on mortals
And the dew lies on the flowers,
The stars peep through night's portals
In the still and quiet hours,
We dance in fairy circlets
To the music that we love -
The murmur of the rippl'ing lake,
The cooing of the dove,
The murmur of the rippl'ing lake,
The cooing of the dove.
The cooing, the cooing,
Coo, coo, coo, coo,
Coo, coo, coo, coo,
Coo, coo, coo, coo,
We dance in fairy circlets
To the music that we love,
Dance, we dance in fairy circlets,
Dance, we dance, we dance, we dance.

When the stars faint light is paling
Before the ruddy dawn,
In golden shallops sailing
We fly before the morn.
Then couched in ferns and mosses
We list the sounds we love,
The music of the rippl'ing lake,
The cooing of the dove,
The music of the rippl'ing lake,
The cooing of the dove.
The cooing, the cooing,
Coo, coo, coo, coo,
Coo, coo, coo, coo,
Coo, coo, coo, coo,
We dance in fairy circlets
To the music that we love,
Dance, we dance in fairy circlets,
Dance, we dance, we dance, we dance.

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Page modified 12 November 2012