Cecilia (Oud Nederlandsch) - Voormolen, Alexander 1895-1980 (Netherlands, 1922)
Printed and manuscript (Autograph?) version of the same song
performer's notes and markings in pensil on the manuscript version
composition place and date marked on manuscript version "'s-Gravenhage 1922"
This love song "Ik zag Cecilia komen" about the shepherds Cecilia and Floriaan, dates back to the 17th century. The oldest entry is in the Album of Geesken ter Borch (1652), with the opening line "Siet het pluijm gevogelt". The famous line with Cecilia is only found in verse 2 of the 2nd strophe. It also appears as "Lied van Cecilia" in the 'Dordrecht Helikon, ofte De Groote Dubbele Hollandsche Nachtegael' (1719). The song has lived on in the oral tradition, perhaps partly due to the fact that it has been included in numerous collections of folk songs. The melody is vaguely found in the Ballo di Mantova (Dance from Mantua) attributed to the guitar virtuoso Francisco Corbetta (1615-1681) and in "Fuggi fuggi da questo cielo" by Giuseppino Cenci (Giuseppino di Roma).
Manuscript version dedicated by the composer to Birgit Engell
Keywords: 20th Century (1901-2000); Song; Vocal music; Antiquarianism; Netherlands