The Farmer's Curst Wife

A little bonbon for your amusement: “The Farmer’s Curst Wife,”� an arrangement of an old Anglo-American folksong. I remember a friend of mine singing this when we were kids, though I confess I’ve never heard it since.

A little background: For some ready cash, around 1815 Beethoven cheerfully wrote dozens of these kind of arrangements of folksongs and popular songs of the day, from countries as disparate as Portugal, Scotland, Russia, and just about every place in between. They were wildly popular and made him a butt-load of money.

As this is, Beethoven’s were all for voice (or voices) and piano trio ”“ violin, ‘cello and piano. I thought I’d try my hand at it for fun. This was written January 1-4, 2005. I have an arrangement of “Shenandoah”� also, and I’m looking a few other possibilities.

Apologies to the ladies! This song was popular when it was acceptable to be a bit misogynistic.

I’d suggest you read the text as you listen. The “riteful titty fie day”� crap is nonsense, of course. The accompaniment changes with each verse to underscore the action, with some funny and even silly results. Hope you enjoy!

“The Farmer’s Curst Wife”�

A farmer was ploughing his field one day,
Riteful, riteful titty fie day,
A farmer was ploughing his field one day,
When the Devil came up, and to him did say,
With a riteful la, titty fie day,
Riteful, riteful, titty fie day!

“See here, my good man, I have come for your wife,”�
Riteful, riteful titty fie day,
“See here, my good man, I have come for your wife,
For she is the bane and torment of your life,”�
With a riteful la, titty fie day,
Riteful, riteful, titty fie day!

So the Devil he hoisted her up on his hump,
Riteful, etc.
So the Devil he hoisted her up on his hump,
And down to Hell with her he did jump,
With a riteful la, etc.

But when they got there, the gates they were shut,
Riteful, etc.
But when they got there, the gates they were shut,
With a blow of her hand she laid open his nut,
With a riteful la, etc.

Two little devils were playing handball,
Riteful, etc.
Two little devils were playing handball,
“Take ‘er back, daddy! She’ll be the death of us all!”�
With a riteful la, etc.

So the Devil, he hoisted her back on his hump,
Riteful, etc.
So the Devil, he hoisted her back on his hump,
And back to earth with her he did jump,
With a riteful la, etc.

“See here, my good man, I have brought back your wife,”�
Riteful, etc.
“See here, my good man, I have brought back your wife,
For she is the bane and torment of MY life!”�
With a riteful la, etc.

They say that the women are worse than the men,
Riteful, etc.
They say that the women are worse than the men,
They went down to Hell and got kicked out again!
With a riteful la, etc.

very nice lol enjoyable with the lyrics and everything

Hey Lee, I just wanted to tell you that I found this piece very inspirational. I've listened to it quite a few times on Finale Showcase already, but it still makes me smile each time I hear it. Is there any chance for a live performance? Surely no players can withstand the charm of this piece?

Thanks! I'm looking for opportunities...with me singing, of course.

I don't quite understand what it is you did with this piece. You obviously didn't write the melody as you atributed that to Beethoven. So did you do a variations on a theme kind of thing or what? How much of this is your work and how much was Beethoven's? If you can help me out with that, then I will be much better to leave you comments.

Sean Christopher Stork
Nightengale Incorporated

Hi, Sean. I may not have made this clear.

This tune is an old English folk tune that I have arranged for voice and accompaniment of piano, violin and cello.

The reason why I chose to do this kind of arrangement is because I have great respect for Beethoven dozens of similar arrangements of European folktunes - particularly his settings of Scottish folksongs and popular songs, commissioned by a British publisher. In a time when many people played instruments and sang (and before television), arrangements like these would have been performed in people's homes for entertainment.

I'd rather listen to this kind of Beethoven than almost any other - the intimate, relatively light-hearted Beethoven we rarely get to hear in his more profound works.

I was trying in my own small way to emulate this type of composition, but not Beethoven's style per-se.

Ah ha! Well, in that case it was extremely well-written. It sounded to me as if it was an actual Beethoven transcription. I will say, however, that I am not particularly fond of Beethoven's Variations on a Theme, but this one was very enjoyable from start to finish. Particularly the descending lines in the "Hell bound" verses. A lot of good voice painting here, as well as thorough orchestration. I'd be very interested in hearing a performance of this (or maybe stealing it away for my upcoming Senior Recital).

Sean Christopher Stork
Nightengale Incorporated

Let me know, and I'll send you a score.

congrats Lee, it's a little jewel.