Vol. XXI 



igo4 



Oldys, Song^ of the Wood Pezvee. 



271 



although I was carefully listening for its repetition, until 1899, 

 five years later. Every year since 1899 I have heard it with 

 growing frequency, until now it is one of the ordinary bird songs 

 of spring and summer. 



The song is remarkable in that it is constructed in the form of 

 the ballad of human music. I have elsewhere shown the signifi- 

 cance of this fact,i and will not repeat the deductions to which 

 it gives rise ; but it may be well here to explain the identity of 

 construction. 



The arrangement of the ordinary ballad frequently consists of a 

 musical theme for the first line, an answering theme for the second 

 line that leaves the musical satisfaction suspended, a repetition of 

 the first theme for the third line, and a repetition of the second 

 theme, either exactly or in general character, but ending with the 

 keynote, for the fourth line. An example will make this clear. 

 Let us analyze the first four lines of ' 'Way Down upon the 

 S'wanee River.' 



Note the symmetrical repetition of phrases, giving a pleasing 

 balance to the composition. Observe also that the note marked 



1st theme. 



2d, or answering theme. 



^ • — ^ — * •-L^ ! -^ ! 1- 



:± 



--Z 



' — s>- 

 a 



1 



1st theme repeated. 



2d theme repeated (in 

 character)* 



1: 



a that ends the second line does not satisfy the musical sense, 

 but leaves the listener in suspense, with the expectation of more 

 to follow ; but the note marked b at the end of the fourth line is 

 the keynote, and is completely satisfying ; there may be more to 

 the song, as in the case of the example quoted, but it is not 

 necessary that there should be. The effect is as though a semi- 

 colon, a colon, a semicolon, and a period were placed at the ends 

 of the respective lines. 



1 Harper's Magazme, August, 1902, pp. 477-478. 



