This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Come, sable night
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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4 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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Come, sable night by John Ward — Lyrics
Come, sable night, put on thy mourning stole,
and help Amyntas sadly to condole.
Behold, the sun hath shut his golden eye,
the day is spent, and shades fair lights supply.
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About Come, sable night
John Ward’s SSATTB madrigal Come, sable night opens with a vivid depiction of encroaching darkness, painting a scene of mournful solitude. The music conjures the stillness of nightfall, a profound silence that contrasts with the inner turmoil of the lamenting Amyntas. The composer skillfully uses the six-part texture to explore the text’s themes of sorrow and despair. The intricate vocal lines weave together to express the pain of lost love and fading hope, creating a rich and poignant emotional landscape. This secular work showcases the expressive power of Renaissance part-music, where the interplay of voices deeply reflects the text's melancholic narrative.
