Summer was officially welcomed today with an early morning celebration at the Stonehenge monument in England. It is particularly fitting for us to join in and sing the 13th century summer canon, "Sumer Is Icumen In". According to Grove Music Online, this musical round was quite advanced for its time as it is a canon in four parts sung over a two part "foot" or bass line. This song has been preserved throughout the ages and is indicative of a prior existence of a highly developed musical culture.
As you stroll at the beach or wander through the woods, you may want to listen to the melodies of summer. The Library has Nat King Cole's "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer", Bob Dylan's "Summerdays", George Gershwin's "Summertime", Joe Jackson's "Summer in the City", and Frank Sinatra's "Something Wonderful Happens In Summer". In the meantime, enjoy this rendition of "Sumer Is Icumen In".