O dear life - Byrd, William

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"A setting of a poem by Sir Philip Sidney (1554-86): the first three stanzas of the Tenth Song from ''Astrophel and Stella''. The piece clearly originates as a consort song for high voice and four viols, though no source of this version is now known.<br>"

⌛ Period → Renaissance ◈ Genre → Partsongs

♯ Key F major

⁄ Time Signature 4/4

♬ Voicing → ATTBB

◆ Difficulty

Elementary

↕ Range F2 – E-5

¶ Language → English

Measures 26

Texture mixed texture

Parts 5

Instruments A cappella

Pages 3

CPDL # 4170

Editor David Fraser

Posted 2002-11-08

License CPDL License

♫Pitch Ranges

Alto

D4 – E-5

Tenor

C3 – F4

Baritone

C3 – E4

Bass

F2 – G3

¶Lyrics / Text

O dear life, when may it be, that mine eyes thine eyes may see, And in them my mind discover, Whether absence hath had force, Thy remembrance to divorce, From the Image of thy lover. O, if I my self find not, though my parting aught forgot Nor debarred from beauty’s treasure Let no tongue aspire to tell In what high Joys I shall dwell, Only thought aims at the pleasure. Thought therefore I will send thee To take up the place for me, Long I will not after tarry, There unseen thou mayst be bold These fair wonders to behold, Which in them my hopes do carry.