This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
A wife's song
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
Preview
0
0
2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · James Gibb
Preview
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
A wife's song by Joseph Barnby — Lyrics
O well I love the Spring,
When the sweet, sweet hawthorn blows;
And well I love the Summer,
And the coming of the rose.
But dearer are the changing leaf,
And the year upon the wane,
For O they bring the blessed time
That brings him home again.
Read full lyrics
About A wife's song
This SAB choral setting of A wife's song captures a tender, domestic sentiment. The English text expresses a deep affection for the changing seasons, with a particular fondness for autumn and winter, not for their own sake, but because they herald the return of a loved one. The words paint a vivid domestic scene, contrasting the dreariness of November and December for some with the comfort of hearing the tempest outside while anticipating reunion. Joseph Barnby’s part-song provides a warm, accessible musical setting for this heartfelt expression of longing and devotion.
