Bryd one brere - Anonymous

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"The First English Love Song. Once upon a time, a bored English cleric flipped over a papal bull which was already a hundred years old and began to write down a song. That song today is recognized as being the oldest extant English love song. ''Bryd one Brere'' is an honest confession of undying love (from the poet to a bird in a tree), devotion, and :praise of a lady. It eloquently conveys the very heart of amor courtoise. Its soaring melody is one of the most beautiful melodies ever written, yet it conveys some element of bittersweetness."

◈ Genre → Madrigals ♬ Voicing → T ¶ Language → Middle English

Parts 1

Instruments A cappella

Pages 2

CPDL # 15110

Editor Kitty Briton

Posted 2007-10-01

License Personal

¶Lyrics / Text

Bird on a briar, bird on a briar, mankind has come of love, love to crave. Blissful bird, rue thou on me, or ready, love, ready thou me my grave. I am so blithe, so blithe, bird on a briar, When I see that maid in the hall. She is white of limb, lovely, :true, She is fair and the flower of all. Might her I have at my will, steadfast of love, lovely, and true, Of my sorrow she might me save, Joy and bliss were ever new to me.