This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
As it fell upon a day
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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As it fell upon a day by Samuel Reay — Lyrics
As it fell upon a day,
In the merry month of May,
Sitting in a pleasant shade,
Which a group of myrtles made;
Beasts did leap, and birds did sing,
Trees did grow, And plants did spring,
Ev'ry thing did banish moan,
Save the nightingale alone.
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About As it fell upon a day
Samuel Reay's partsong As it fell upon a day opens with a gentle evocation of a peaceful spring scene. The SATB voices weave together to create a pleasing texture, mirroring the idyllic setting described in the English text. The poem, however, takes a turn as the focus shifts to the nightingale, whose mournful song against a thorn is a poignant symbol of sorrow amidst nature's general joy. The music reflects this contrast, moving from pastoral calm to a more introspective and melancholic mood as the singer identifies with the bird's plight. This secular work masterfully captures the emotional nuance of the text through its vocal writing.
