Patter song

Major-General's Song

George Baker sings the "I am the very model of a modern Major-General", conducted by George W. Byng (1920)

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The patter song is characterised by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note.^[1] It is a staple of comic opera, especially Gilbert and Sullivan, but it has also been used in musical theatre and elsewhere.^[2]

The lyric of a patter song generally features tongue-twisting rhyming text, with alliterative words and other consonant or vowel sounds that are intended to be entertaining to listen to at rapid speed.^[2] The musical accompaniment is lightly orchestrated and fairly simple, to emphasise the text.^[3] The song is often intended as a showpiece for a comic character, usually a bass or baritone.^[2] The singer should be capable of excellent enunciation while singing quickly to perform the song to maximum effect.