Somewhat musing (Robert Fayrfax)
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- Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2014-09-02). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 41 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: MusicXML source file(s) in compressed .mxl format.
General Information
Title: Somewhat musing
Composer: Robert Fayrfax
Lyricist: Anthony Woodville
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: ATB
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: Middle English
Instruments: A cappella
First published: 1500 in Fayrfax Manuscript, no. 24
Description: A three part song. According to Grove's dictionary there are two versions of it.
External websites:
Original text and translations
Middle English text
Somewhat musing
And more mourning,
In remembering
Th’unsteadfastness;
This world being
Of such wheeling,
Me contrarying,
What may I guess?
I fear, doubtless,
Remediless
Is now to seize
My woeful chance;
For unkindness,
Withoutenless,
And no redress,
Me doth advance.
With displeasure,
To my grievance,
And no surance
Of remedy;
Lo, in this trance,
Now in substance,
Such is my dance,
Willing to die.
Methinks truly
Bounden am I,
And that greatly,
To be content;
Seeing plainly
Fortune doth wry
All contrary
From mine intent.
My life was lent
Me to one intent.
It is nigh spent.
Welcome Fortune!
But I ne went
Thus to be shent
But she it meant:
Such is her won.