A further element of form is found in "Polly Oliver," namely, the balance of phrases. This balance of phrases one against another is derived ultimately from the timed motions of the body in dancing, or from the meter of the four line verse to which the music was sung. And this balance of phrases, derived from these elemental sources, still dominates in the melodies of the great masters, although it is managed with constantly increasing freedom and elasticity, so that we find in modern music little of that sing-song mechanical regularity which we may note in most folk-songs and dances.
Let us now examine another old English song, "Barbara Allen."
In Scar-let Town where I was born, There was a fair maid dwellin', Made ev' - ry youth cry "well-a-day," Her name was Barbara Allen.
All in the merry month of May, When green buds they were swellin', Young Jemmy Grove on his death bed lay For love of Barbara Allen.
Then slowly, slowly she came up, And slowly she came nigh him, And all she said when there she came: "Young man, I think you're dying."
When he was dead, and laid in grave, Her heart was struck with sorrow. "O mother, mother!--make my bed, For I shall die to-morrow!"
She, on her death bed as she lay, Begg'd to be buried by him, And sore repented of the day That she did e'er deny him.
"Farewell!" she said, "ye maidens all, And shun the fault I fell in. Henceforth take warning by the fall Of cruel Barbara Allen."
This also is a traditional song. The words celebrate the emotion of unrequited love, a favorite subject with the old ballad writers. In the music, we shall find a further illustration of the use of the devices already referred to.
We note first of all that there is throughout the melody a constant use of one rhythmic motive. This figure appears in the first four notes of the song, and is found at the beginning of every other measure save the fifth and the last. While these transpositions are not so literal as is that at the beginning of "Polly Oliver," they are nevertheless sufficiently close to serve the purpose of preserving unity while still providing variety. The tune is held together by this insistence on the motive; there is considerable variety in the melody of the various phrases, but through it all runs this persistent rhythm.