This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Awake mine eyes
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Awake mine eyes by William Byrd — Lyrics
Awake mine eyes, see Phoebus bright arising,
And lesser Lights to shades obscure descending,
Glad Philomela sits tunes of joy devising,
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About Awake mine eyes
William Byrd was a master of both sacred and secular music in late Renaissance England. This four-part setting, Awake mine eyes, is a fine example of his secular part-song writing. The text celebrates the dawn, with the sun ('Phoebus bright') rising and the birds ('Philomela', the 'Silvan Quire') singing joyfully. Byrd captures the celebratory mood with music that is both intricate and expressive, with the voices weaving together in imitative counterpoint. The SSAB voicing allows for a rich texture, suitable for a skilled chamber choir.
