Early One Morning

Practice lyrical English folk melody
Develop smooth legato phrasing
Master 4/4 time with flowing character

About This Song

Origin: Traditional English folk song (19th century)

Difficulty: Intermediate

Notes Used: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C (high), D (high)

Time Signature: 4/4

Key: D Major

Fingering Review

Full Song

A beautiful English folk song with a gentle, flowing melody. The song tells of lost love with melancholy grace.

Traditional opening verse:

Early one morning, just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing in the valley below.
Oh, don't deceive me, oh never leave me,
How could you use a poor maiden so?

Practice Tips

Lyrical style: This is a gentle, flowing song - use smooth, connected notes
Breath control: The phrases are moderately long - practice breathing at natural phrase breaks
Dynamic shaping: Let the melody swell and diminish naturally
Tempo: Not too slow - maintain a gentle walking pace

Practice Exercises

Practice the opening leap and ascent to high D.

Master the graceful descending phrase.

Practice the stepwise ascending and descending pattern.

Practice moving smoothly through the full octave.

Put together the entire melody.

Historical Context

Early One Morning is a traditional English folk song that became widely known in the 19th century, though it may have earlier origins. The melody has a distinctly English pastoral quality, evoking the countryside at dawn. The song is a lament sung by a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover, and its bittersweet melody perfectly captures the mixture of beauty and sadness in the lyrics. The tune has remained popular in English folk music and is often included in collections of traditional songs. Its accessible melody and expressive character make it ideal for recorder players developing their interpretive skills.

Performance Goal: Play this with smooth, lyrical phrasing and gentle expression. The melody should flow naturally like a song being sung. Focus on making beautiful, connected phrases.

Next Steps

Once you can play Early One Morning confidently, try:

Adding subtle rubato (slight tempo variations) for expressive effect
Experimenting with soft dynamics throughout
Learning "The Mulberry Bush" for a contrasting, cheerful English song