Ay mee, Can every rumor

The composer John Wilbye crafts an engaging musical argument in this English madrigal, Ay mee, Can every rumor. The interplay between the SSA and SST voices creates a delicate texture, mirroring the text's exploration of a lover's frustration with his lady's fickle moods. As rumors of other suitors arise, she becomes impassioned, accusing men of fickle affections. Yet, the speaker insists on his own unwavering devotion. Wilbye's setting skillfully captures these shifts in emotion, with the voices often weaving together to express both the lover's plea and the lady's changeable nature. It is a fine example of Renaissance secular part-music, capturing a moment of romantic uncertainty with wit and musical invention.