Susanna fair (1589) (William Byrd)
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- CPDL #8692: Sibelius 2
- Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2004-12-06). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 81 kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: Revised March 2006 (revisions to underlay & format).
General Information
Title: Susanna fair (1589)
Composer: William Byrd
Number of voices: 3vv Voicing: SAT
Genre: Secular, Partsong
Language: English
Instruments: none, a cappella
Published: Songs of sundrie natures (1589), no.8
Description: The same text also exists in a 5-voice setting in the Psalms, sonnets and songs... of 1588.
External websites:
Original text and translations
Original text:
English text
Susanna fair some time assaulted
was by two old men,
desiring their delight,
which lewd intent
they thought to bring to pass,
if not by tender love,
by force and might ,
tho whom she said,
if I your suit deny,
you will me falsely accuse
and make me die.
And if I grant to that
which you request,
my chastity shall then
deflowered be
which is so dear to me,
that I detest my life,
if it berefted be from me,
and rather would I die
of mine accord,
ten thousand times
than once offend our Lord.