This edition was prepared by Gary D. Cannon — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Fair Phyllis I saw
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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8 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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Fair Phyllis I saw by John Farmer — Lyrics
Fair Phyllis I saw sitting all alone
Feeding her flock near to the mountainside.
The shepherds knew not whither she was gone,
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About Fair Phyllis I saw
John Farmer's Fair Phyllis I saw is a delightful example of English secular part-music from the Renaissance. This four-part SATB setting captures the playful narrative of the text, which tells of the shepherdess Phyllis, her missing lover Amyntas, and their joyful reunion. The music vividly portrays the chase and the subsequent embrace, with lively rhythms and imitative textures characteristic of the madrigal tradition. Farmer's work remains a charming and engaging piece for choirs seeking to explore the rich heritage of English polyphony, offering a charming depiction of pastoral love and courtship.
