Wednesday 7 November 2018

Mambru has left the war

As usual, going on holiday is more relaxing than going to work. What is more, you can learn something new.
On holiday in Cuba I came across a rather strange picture of something like a bogeyman in a shop selling, IMHO overpriced Spanish ceramic ware,.
Who or what was Mambru
It turns out this bogeyman was the Duke of Marlborough!

It was explained, by my dear wife, that this was a children's song in Spain, though it was actually a French song in origin. It is about the death and burial of Marlborough. Unfortunately for the French it wasn't true. It came about after the rumoured death of Marlbrough after the battle of Malplaquet.
It is rather a long song so I won't set it down here.

But here is a more serious version in Spanish
Mambru se fue a la guerra

Mambru se fue a la guerra

And a French baroque version

Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre

Rather nice.


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