This edition was prepared by Gordon J. Callon — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Farewell, Once My Delight
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Farewell, Once My Delight by Walter Porter — Lyrics
Farewell, once my delight. Farewell, the nearest
Part of my heart, and of the world the dearest.
I'll plain no more to love, no more to thee;
But cease to mourn where none will pity me.
And though I hate my life since you hate me,
I'll cover it to hide your cruelty.
And since my love and me you disavow,
As if to love you were to injure you,
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About Farewell, Once My Delight
A poignant farewell to a lost love, Walter Porter’s madrigal for SATB choir is a secular song exploring the pain of unrequited affection. The text expresses a complex mix of resignation and lingering devotion, as the singer bids goodbye to someone who has cast them aside, yet still wishes them well. The music would suit a concert programme or a dramatic recital, offering a chance for expressive interpretation of the text’s emotional arc. The vocal parts are woven together to create a rich harmonic texture, reflecting the depth of feeling in the words, as the singer moves from profound sadness to a final, bittersweet blessing.
