The Gondoliers by W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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No. 21: GAVOTTE (Duke, Duchess, Casilda, Marco & Giuseppe)

"I am a courtier grave and serious"

MIDI File [20KB, 3' 50"] Sequenced by Gregor Smith

Click on picture to enlarge — Henry Lytton as the Duke of Plaza Toro

Duke.

I am a courtier grave and serious
Who is about to kiss your hand:
Try to combine a pose imperious
With a demeanour nobly bland.

Marco & Giuseppe.

Let us combine a pose imperious
With a demeanour nobly bland.

Marco and Giuseppe endeavour to carry out his instructions.

Duke.

That's, if anything, too unbending —
Too aggressively stiff and grand;

They suddenly modify their attitudes.

Now to the other extreme you're tending —
Don't be so deucedly condescending!

Casilda & Duchess.

Now to the other extreme you're tending —
Don't be so dreadfully condescending!

Marco & Giuseppe.

Oh, hard to please some noblemen seem!
At first, if anything, too unbending;
Off we go to the other extreme —
Too confoundedly condescending!

Duke.

Now a gavotte perform sedately —
Offer your hand with conscious pride;
Take an attitude not too stately,
Still sufficiently dignified.

Marco & Giuseppe.

Now for an attitude not too stately,
Still sufficiently dignified.

They endeavour to carry out his instructions.

Duke. (beating time)

Oncely, twicely — oncely, twicely —
Bow impressively ere you glide.

Marco & Giuseppe do so.

Capital both, capital both — you've caught it nicely!
That is the style of thing precisely!

Casilda & Duchess.

Capital both, capital both — they've caught it nicely!
That is the style of thing precisely!

Marco & Giuseppe.

Oh, sweet to earn a nobleman's praise!
Capital both, capital both — we've caught it nicely!
Supposing he's right in what he says,
This is the style of thing precisely!

Casilda & Duchess.	Marco, Giuseppe & Duke.
Capital both, capital both — you've caught it nicely!	Ah! this
That is the style of thing precisely!	the style,
That is the style of thing,	This is the style of thing,
The style of thing precisely!	The style of thing precisely!

Gavotte. At the end exeunt Duke and Duchess, leaving Casilda with Marco and Giuseppe.

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