Hoyda, hoyda, jolly rutterkin

Imagine a boisterous, perhaps slightly rowdy, gathering in a medieval or Tudor town. This secular four-part song imagines the arrival of a mysterious stranger known as 'Rutterkin', who can barely speak English and is clad in a ragged hood. The text humorously describes his unusual speech, a preoccupation with greasy fish, and the supposed good luck he brings, culminating in a plea for him to drink beer until he is as 'wise as a duck'. The music would likely capture this playful and slightly nonsensical narrative with lively rhythms and energetic part-writing, making it a spirited choice for a concert programme.