The neighbourhood of Reading teems with objects of natural beauty and historic interest, which more than repay the examination of the visitor to this, at first sight, rather modest modern red brick country town. Reading has seen in its time a very full share of England’s history and romance.
Original manuscript (six voices).
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See [Transcriber's Note] for this version in modern notation.
NOTE.—The original composition of “Sumer is icumen in” took six persons to sing it. The modernised version given on the next page is for a solo voice with pianoforte accompaniment. In it the old wording has been slightly modernised, the only archaic word occurring being “sterteth” which means “frisketh,” and “verteth” now an obsolete term indicating to go to the vert or the greenwood. “Sumer is icumen in” means literally: Summer has come in.
The old version with the ancient notation, English and Latin words, and instructions as to singing, shows very much the form of the original 13th century manuscript.
Newer version of song (one voice). Page 1 of 2.
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Newer version of song (one voice). Page 2 of 2.
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SUMMER IS ICUMEN IN.