This edition was prepared by Brian Russell — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
As Matchless Beauty
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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As Matchless Beauty by John Wilbye — Lyrics
As matchless beauty thee a Phoenix proves,
Fair Leonilla, so thy soursweet loves.
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About As Matchless Beauty
John Wilbye paints a scene of ardent devotion in this English madrigal. The text speaks of a love so profound that the beloved, Leonilla, becomes a phoenix through her beauty, dying in one suitor's gaze only to be reborn in the singer's passionate affections. Wilbye's setting, for double choir (SATB, AATB), masterfully captures the contrasting emotions of 'sour-sweet' love, from the initial taming of a proud heart to the enduring 'flames' of desire. This is secular part-music from the late Renaissance, characterized by its rich harmonies and expressive vocal writing, ideal for exploring the complexities of unrequited or transformative love.
