When shall my wretched life (John Wilbye)

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CPDL #24375:    Capella 

Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2011-09-06).   Score information: A4, 5 pages, 46 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: This version is set as SSATTB, since the original Alto has a lower range than the Tenor.

General Information

Title: When shall my wretched life
Composer: John Wilbye

Number of voices: 6vv   Voicing: SSATTB

Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1596

Description: No.25 from The 1st Set of Madrigals. Original version is SSSATB.

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Original text and translations

English text

When shall my wretched life give place to death?
That my sad cares may be enforc’d to leave me.
Come, saddest shadow, stop my vital breath,
For I am thine, then let not care bereave thee
Of thy sad thrall but, with thy fatal dart,
Kill care and me, while care lies at my heart.