Sumer is acumen

Sumer is acumen in is a song written in the Wessex dialect of Middle English. The brilliance of the composition lies in the use of a refrain that resonates with the consecutive cooing of the Cuckoo.

Facts about Sumer is icumen in

There are several important facts regarding ‘Sumer is icumen in’. Firstly, the manuscript in which the song was preserved was copied between 1261 and 1264. Henceforth, it is the oldest musical composition ever known.

Moreover, the songwriter provided instructions on how to sing this song in unison. Thereafter, in the Wessex version, there is a phrase, “bucke uertep”. Its meaning is not clear. According to Millet, it means “The billy-goat farting”. Whereas, in Platzer’s version, the meaning appears, “The stag cavorting”. However, it doesn’t affect the overall idea of the poem.

Apart from that, in modern times, this song is sung on several occasions. Likewise, in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, the opening ceremony included a performance of this rota. (Compazine 2013).