This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Adieu to the woods
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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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
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Adieu to the woods by Seymour John Grey Egerton — Lyrics
Abschied vom Walde
Wie lieg'st du fromm gebreitet,
Du lichter grüner Wald!
Am Gras ein Rehlein weidet,
Der Schlag de Amsel hallt.
Wie oft hab' ich geschwärmet
In dir, du duft'ger Tann,
Und wenn ich mich gehärmet,
Du warst nicht Schuld daran.
Lass deine Wipfel wehen,
Die stets von Märchen voll;
Ich muss ach! weitergehen,
mein Wald, so lebe wohl!
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About Adieu to the woods
Seymour John Grey Egerton's Adieu to the woods is a SATB setting of German text with an English translation provided. As a secular part-song, it reflects the tradition of German Romantic Lieder, often drawing inspiration from nature. The music opens with a gentle, flowing texture, establishing a sense of pastoral calm. The composer uses the four voices to create a rich, homophonic sound that evokes the serene beauty of the forest. The text speaks of the singer's deep affection for the woods, a place of solace and reflection, before bidding it a sorrowful farewell as they must move on. The alternating German and English texts allow for a fuller appreciation of the lyrical sentiment, capturing the bittersweet emotions of parting with a beloved natural landscape.
