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Mathematics and Music
Dave Benson
Department of Mathematics, University of Georgia, AthensGA 30602, USA
Home page
: http://www.math.uga.edu/
∼
djb/
E-mail address
:
\
/
\
/b
\
e/n
\
s/o
\
n/d
\
j/
\
/ (without the slashes)at math dot uga dot edu
Date
: December 29, 2004
Version 
: WebThis work is still very much in progress, and isc
Dave Benson 1995–2004.Please email comments and corrections to the above email address. The lat-est version can be found at
http://www.math.uga.edu/
∼
djb/html/math-music.html
in Adobe pdf format.
 
To Christine Natasha
 
iii
Ode to an Old Fiddle
From the Musical World of London (1834);1
The poor fiddler’s ode to his old fiddle
TornWornOppressed I mournB a dS a dThree-quarters madMoney goneCredit noneDuns at doorHalf a scoreWife in lainTwins againOthers ailingNurse a railingBilly hoopingBetsy croupingBesides poor JoeWith fester’d toe.Come, then, my Fiddle,Come, my time-worn friend,With gay and brilliant soundsSome sweet tho’ transient solace lend,Thy polished neck in close embraceI clasp, whilst joy illumines my face.When o’er thy strings I draw my bow,My drooping spirit pants to rise;A lively strain I touch—and, lo!I seem to mount above the skies.There on Fancy’s wing I soarHeedlessofthedunsatdoor;Oblivious all, I feel my woes no more;But skip o’er the strings,As my old Fiddle sings,“Cheerily oh! merrily go!“
Presto
! good master,“You very well know“I will find Music,“If you will find bow,“From E, up in alto, to G, down below.”Fatigued,IpausetochangethetimeFor some
Adagio
, solemn and sublime.With graceful action moves the sinuous arm;My heart, responsive to the soothing charm,Throbs equably; whilst every health-corroding careLies prostrate, vanquished by the soft mellifluous air.Moreandmoreplaintivegrown,myeyeswithtearso’erflow,And Resignation mild soon smooths my wrinkled brow.Reedy Hautboy may squeak, wailing Flauto may squall,The Serpent may grunt, and the Trombone may bawl;But, by Poll,
∗
my old Fiddle’s the prince of them all.Could e’en Dryden return, thy praise to rehearse,His Ode to Cecilia would seem rugged verse.Now to thy case, in flannel warm to lie,Tillcall’dagaintopipethymaster’seye.
∗
Apollo.1
Quoted in Nicolas Slonimsky’s
Book of Musical Anecdotes
, reprinted by Schirmer,1998.
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