Ah! woe is me

Henry Lahee's Ah! woe is me paints a vivid picture of unrequited affection, opening with the singer's lament that his love is cold and flees when he sighs. He despairs that only a smile or a merry laugh might win her over, but then a sudden shift occurs. The refrain of 'Fa la la la la' signals a turn towards merriment, as the singer resolves to cast aside his sighs and instead let only mirth attend his beloved. This delightful partsong is set for SSATTB voices and sung in English. It sits comfortably within the tradition of secular part-music, echoing the spirit of Renaissance madrigals with its blend of expressive text and lively, joyful conclusion.