This edition was prepared by Gary D. Cannon — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Arise, awake
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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3 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
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Arise, awake by Thomas Morley — Lyrics
Arise, awake, awake,
You silly shepherds sleeping;
Devise some honour for her sake
By mirth to banish weeping.
See where she comes, lo where,
In gaudy green arraying,
A prince of beauty rich and rare for her delighting
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About Arise, awake
This joyful English madrigal depicts a pastoral scene, with shepherds and nymphs roused from their sleep to celebrate the arrival of a beautiful princess. The text urges them to devise honour for her sake by banishing weeping with mirth, inviting them to strew her path with roses. The choir is set for SATTB voices, with the composer Thomas Morley inviting the singers to portray the scene vividly through their music. The final refrain, "Long live fair Oriana," likely refers to Queen Elizabeth I, a common subject for such celebratory part-songs of the era. It is a lively example of Renaissance secular part-music.
