“Jemmy of the Glen”
Mary Ann Wrighten Pownall
“Jemmy of the Glen,” words and music by Mary Ann Pownall, was included in Six Songs for the Harpsichord, in conjunction with James Hewitt. This was reprinted in 1798, two years after Mrs. Pownall’s death.
Where gently flows sweet winding Tay
The Vallies gladdening with its stream
O’er ev’ry copse and ev’ry Brae,
O’er ev’ry copse and ev’ry Brae,
I mourn and Jemmy is my theme,
He left my cot last Whitsun Eve
And vow’d he’d soon be back again
but ah, poor Mary he’ll deceive,
I’ll ne’er shall see the Lad again.
[Refrain]
Bonny Jemmy, too lovely Jemmy,
Cou’d I behold him once again
But ah his Mary he’ll deceive
I ne’er shall see the Lad again.
The Lasses all when I complain
Wi’ Scornful taunts my mis’ries shun
But ah had they beheld my Swain
Too sure, like me they’d been undone
Then do not blame an artless Maid
But pray ye ne’er my Jemmy ken
Or hear those Vows my heart beray’d
To sigh for Jemmy of the Glen.
[Refrain]
If Fame he seek, mid hostile strife
Or Gayly gangs, fair Glasgows Pride
Some fatal Ball may end his life
Or City Dame become his wife,.
Or if on Tays green kourn he tread
Some Lord-ling’s Child his heart may win
And far from me my Shepherd wed,
I ne’er shall see the Lad again.
[Refrain]
About the performer:
Soprano Elleka Okerstrom is a recent Cum Laude graduate of DePauw University and a previous resident of the beautiful Traverse City, Michigan. During her undergraduate studies at DePauw, Ms. Okerstrom studied with mezzo-soprano Caroline B. Smith and performed extensively in both main stage opera and musical theatre productions. Most recently, she performed Violante/Sandrina in a modern adaptation of Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera, directed by world-renowned director and visual set-designer Joachim Schamberger. Other roles with DePauw Opera include Prince Orlofsky in Johann Strass’ Die Fledermaus, Nancy Waters in Britten’s Albert Herring, Miss Pinkterton in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief, and Little Red Riding Hood in DePauw Theatre’s production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods.
Ms. Okerstrom was a semi-finalist in the National Orpheus Vocal Competition, a finalist in the Opera Guild of Dayton Vocal Competition, and has repeatedly placed first in the Indiana State NATS competition. Currently, Ms. Okerstrom is pursuing her Master of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music.