Young Thyrsis' fate - Purcell, Henry

"Young Thyrsis’ fate is an elegy written for the composer Thomas Farmer, who died young. He was a colleague of Purcell’s in the theatre world. Thyrsis is a character from Virgil's Eclogues, more precisely a shepherd and bard who competes in a singing contest. Recorded versions exist for both soprano and tenor, supplemented in both cases with a bass in the "chorus" part at the end. The elegy can also be sung as a solo, however."

⌛ Period → Baroque

◈ Genre / Form Art songs

♯ Key C minor

⁄ Time Signature 4/4

♬ Voicing → SB

◆ Difficulty

Intermediate

↕ Range D2 – A-4

¶ Language → English

Measures 106

Texture Homophonic

Parts 4

Instruments Basso continuo

Pages 4

CPDL # 55093

Editor Nickel van Duijvenboden

Posted 2019-08-19

License CPDL License

♫Pitch Ranges

1 03

A3 – G4

Tenor

G2 – A-4

F2 – A-4

Continuo

D2 – E-4

¶Lyrics / Text

Young Thyrsis' fate ye hills and groves deplore Thyrsis, the pride of all the plains The joy of nymphs and envy of the swains, The gentle Thyrsis is no more. What makes the spring retire And groves their song decline? Nature for her love’d Thyrsis seems to pine Whose artful strains and tuneful lyre Made the spring bloom and did the groves inspire. What can the drooping sons of art From this sad hour impart To charm the cares of life And ease the lover's smart? While thus in dismal notes We mourn the skillful shepherd’s urn To the glad skies his harmony he bears And as he charm'd the earth, transports the spheres.

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