This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Come, May
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Come, May by Bernard Johnson — Lyrics
Come, May, with all thy /lowers,
Thy sweetlyscented thorn,
Thy cooling evening showers,
Thy fragrant breath at morn:
When May/lies haunt the willow,
When Maybuds tempt the bee,
Then, o’er the shining billow
My love will come to me.
From Eastern Isles she wingeth
Through watery wilds her way,
And on her cheek she bringeth
The bright sun’s orient ray!
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About Come, May
This delightful SATB setting of an English text captures the vibrant arrival of spring. The words paint a picture of May, bursting with flowers, scented breezes, and morning fragrance, all heralding the longed-for arrival of a beloved. The composer Bernard Johnson evokes the joy of this anticipation, as the imagery shifts from the gentle beauty of the May countryside to the journey of the loved one arriving from afar, bringing with her the warmth of the sun. The piece builds to a plea for May to enhance her own beauty to welcome her return, making it a charming and evocative choice for a secular part-song.
