This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Ambitious Love
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Ambitious Love by William Byrd — Lyrics
Ambitious love hath forst me to aspire,
the beauties rare which doe adorne thy face:
Thy modest life yet bridles my desire,
whose severe law doth promise mee no grace.
But what? may love live under any law.
No, no? his power exceedeth mans conceit:
Of which the Gods themselves doe stand in awe,
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About Ambitious Love
A challenging and rewarding work for a mature male choir (ATTBB), William Byrd's Ambitious Love is a secular English partsong from the Renaissance. The text explores the paradox of desire, where a passionate aspiration is tempered by the beloved's modest virtue. The composer vividly captures the internal conflict of the lover, who grapples with the powerful, almost divine force of love that defies human laws and reason. The lyrics encourage a bold pursuit of one's aims, suggesting that even in failure, the courage of the attempt can serve as justification. This piece would be well-suited for a concert programme featuring English madrigals or Renaissance vocal music.
