Brooms for old shoes

Thomas Ravenscroft's Brooms for old shoes is a lively and characterful canon for two equal voices. The text paints a vivid picture of street vendors hawking their wares, from 'brooms for old shoes' and 'new oysters' to 'pipins fine, cherry ripe.' It also includes domestic advice and a warning, before ending with the chiming of the clock and a final farewell. The music masterfully captures the bustling atmosphere of the marketplace and the various calls of the sellers, creating an engaging and entertaining soundscape in this secular English part-song. Ravenscroft's skill in contrapuntal writing is evident throughout this delightful piece.