Reginald De Koven

from the Comic Opera "Robin Hood", Op. 50

"Oh Promise Me" was not part of the original opera, but was written in 1887 by De Koven to lyrics written by English poet Clement Scott and published as a separate art song in 1889. After the opening night of Robin Hood, the contralto playing Alan-a-Dale (a wandering minstrel who became one of the "Merry Men"), Jessie Bartlett Davis, demanded a song to better show off her voice, threatening to walk out of the production. De Koven inserted "Oh Promise Me" into the production for her. The piece is used in Act 3, sung at the wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but in the 1891 version it was sung in Act 2 between "Brown October Ale" and the "Tinkers' Song"

Vocal range is Eb4-Ab5.

A "Low Voice" version (in F, down a minor 3rd) is available here.

Oh, promise me that someday you and I
Will take our love together to some sky
Where we may be alone and faith renew,
And find the hollows where those flowers grew,
Those first sweet violets of early spring,
Which come in whispers, thrill us both, and sing
Of love unspeakable that is to be;
Oh, promise me! Oh, promise me!

Oh, promise me that you will take my hand,
The most unworthy in this lonely land,
And let me sit beside you in your eyes,
Seeing the vision of our paradise,
Hearing God's message while the organ rolls
Its mighty music to our very souls,
No love less perfect than a life with thee;
Oh, promise me! Oh, promise me!

PDF download purchase includes an MP3 file of the piano part for rehearsal or performance purposes.

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