Marion Leeds Carroll's

Gilbert and Sullivan Ensembles List

For use in excerpt programs. There are other ensembles to be found among the canon - but none, I believe, which can be excerpted easily. Even some of the following may need an explanation of context to be appreciated.

This list is presented by opera, in order chronological. To find the group of voices you want - e.g. s/m/t/b - use the "find" feature on your browser - mlc

PDF copies of random G&S choruses

Key: s=soprano, m=mezzo-soprano, a=contralto, t=tenor, cb=character baritone, b=baritone, bs=bass

Unfamiliar with the repertoire? The Gilbert & Sullivan Archives include online midi files of the G&S operas. List and learn!
Trial by Jury A nice dilemma (s/t/cb/b/b/bs & chor)      
The Sorcerer Welcome, joy (a/bs)
Incantation scene (s/t/cb & chor)
Now to the banquet we press (s/a/t/b * )
Oh love, true love (s/t)
'Tis twelve, I think (s/t/cb)
Kind friends, take pity (s/bs & chor)
I rejoice that it's decided (s/a/t/b/bs)
Oh, I have wrought much evil with my spells (a/cb)
Oh joyous boon (s/b)		 The Mikado Young man, despair (t/b/bs)
Three little maids (s/s/m & chor)
So please you sir (s/s/m/bs & chor)
Were you not to Ko-Ko plighted (s/t)
I am so proud ("Big black block trio") (b/cb/bs)
Brightly dawns our wedding day (Madrigal) (s/m/t/bs)
Here's a how-de-do (s/t/cb)
The criminal cried (m/cb/b & chor)
See how the Fates (m/a/cb/b/bs)
The flowers that bloom (s/m/t/cb/b)
There is beauty in the bellow (a/cb) 		 
HMS Pinafore A British tar (Glee) (t/b/bs & m chor)
Refrain, audacious tar (s/t)
Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen (s/t/m/b & chor)
Things are seldom what they seem (a/b)
Never mind the why and wherefore ("Bell trio")(s/cb/b)
Kind Captain (b/b)
Farewell, my own (s/m/a/t/b/b/b/bs & chor) 		Ruddigore I know a youth (s/cb)
The battle's roar is over (s/t)
In sailing o'er life's ocean wide (s/t/cb)
You understand? I think I do (t/b)
When the buds are blossoming (s/a/t/bs & chor)
I once was as meek (cb/bs)
Happily coupled are we (s/t & f chor)
I once was a very abandoned person (m/b)
My eyes are fully open (m/b/b )
There grew a little flower (a/bs) 		 
The Pirates of Penzance Oh, false one, you have deceived me (a/t)
How beautifully blue the sky (s/t & f chor)
Hail, Poetry (unaccompanied chorus s/a/t/b/bs)
Now for the pirates' lair ("Paradox trio")(a/t/bs)
Away, away! (a/t/bs)
All is prepared [includes Ah, leave me not to pine] (s/t) 		The Yeomen of the Guard Alas! I waver (m/t/b)
I have a song to sing, oh! (s/cb/chor)
How say you, maiden (s/cb/b)
To thy fraternal care (m/t/bs, m chor)
Hereupon we're both agreed (cb/bs)
Strange adventure (s/m/t/b)
A man who would woo a fair maid (s/m/t)
When a wooer goes a-wooing(s/m/t/cb)
Rapture, rapture (a/bs)
'Tis said that joy (s/m/a)		  
Patience

 

 Long years ago (s/m)
Prithee, pretty maiden (s/b)
I hear the soft voice (s/m/m/t/b/bs/ chor)
So go to him & say to him (a/cb)
Medieval Art (t/b/bs)
If Saphir I choose to marry (s/m/t/b/bs)
When I go out of door (cb/b) 		The Gondoliers We're called gondolieri (t/b)
From the sunny Spanish shore (s/a/t/cb)
Oh rapture! When alone together (s/b or t)
There was a time (s/b or t)
Try we life-long (s/a/cb/b/bs)
Then one of us will be a queen (s/m/t/b)
Replying, we sing As one individual (t/b)
Come, let's away (s/m/t/b & chor)
After sailing to this island (s/a/t/b) & chor
There lived a King (t/b/bs)
In a contemplative fashion (s/m/t/b)
Small titles & orders (a/cb)
I am a courtier (s/a/t/b/cb)
Here is a case unprecedented (s/s/m/t/b)		  
Iolanthe None shall part us (s/b)
When darkly looms the day (s/m/t/b/b & m chor)
In vain to us you plead (s/m & chor)
Though p'r'aps I may incur your blame (s/t/b/bs)
If you go in (t/cb/b)
If we're weak enough to tarry (s/b) 		Utopia, Ltd. In every mental lore (cb/cb & chor
Let all your doubts take wing (cb/cb)
Although of native maids (s/s)
Subjected to your heavenly gaze (a/bs)
Eagle high (unacco. chor)
It's understood, I think, all round (s/t/b/b)
Oh admirable art (s/t)
Words of love too loudly spoken (s/t)
With fury deep we burn (cb/cb)
If you think that, when banded in unity (cb/cb/bs)
With wily brain upon the spot (t/cb/cb)
Then I may sing and play? (s/s/t/b)
Oh, the rapture unrestrained (a/bs) 		 
Princess Ida We are warriors three (b/b/bs)
Expressive glances (t/t/b/& chor)
Gently, gently (t/t/b)
I am a maiden (t/t/b)
The world is but a broken toy (s/t/t/b)
The woman of the wisest wit (s/m/t/t/b)
Now, wouldn't you like to rule the roast (m/a)
This helmet, I suppose (b/b/bs & chor) 		The Grand Duke Pretty Lisa, fair and tasty (s/b & chor)
How would I play this part (s/t)
Strange the views some people hold (s/s/t/t/b)
Now take a card and gaily sing (s/s/t/t/b)
As o'er our penny roll we sing (a/cb)
Oh, listen to me, dear (s/s)
Now Julia, come, Consider it (s/b)
If the light of love's lingering ember (s/t)
We're rigged out in magnificent array (s/b & chor)		  

Note - there are those who may disagree with my categorization of certain roles - e.g., I have listed Lisa in The Grand Duke as a soprano, while others have told me they think she's a mezzo, and I know people will object to my distinctions between low baritone and bass.

And there are roles which can be sung by more than one voice type. E.G: Luiz in The Gondoliers is supposed to be a lyric baritone, but the role can be sung by a tenor; Peep-Bo in The Mikado can be handled by a soprano or a mezzo voice. Especially in an excerpt program, it's usually fine to sing whatever feels right.

If you aren't familiar with the repertoire, don't be afraid to test the music in your own voice, to listen to recordings, and to ask people who know.

If you have a scholarly bone to pick with me, please be in touch.

Thanks go to Sam Silvers for proofreading and scholarly suggestions. - mlc

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© April 2001 Marion Leeds Carroll Please feel free to use this information - but if you copy and re-publish large portions of it, please don't forget to mention my name!


http://www.leedscarroll.com/GSEnsembles.html was last modified 7/11/14


"Now to the banquet..." isn't strictly a solo ensemble, even when it returns in the Act II finale. But, as Andi Stryker-Rodda points out, it's "often found in excerpt programs as an opener or closer...A dead easy cheery filler."