This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
From silent night
Staff Notation • Secular, Lute songs
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From silent night by John Dowland — Lyrics
From silent night, true register of moanes,
From saddest Soule consumde with deepest sinnes,
From hart quite rent with sighes and heavie groanes,
My wayling Muse her wofull worke beginnes.
And to the world brings tunes of sad despaire,
Sounding nought else but sorrow, griefe and care.
Sorrow to see my sorrowes cause augmented,
and yet lesse sorrowfull were my sorrowes more:
Griefe that my griefe with griefe is not prevented,
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About From silent night
From silent night is a deeply expressive solo lute song from the English Renaissance. The music immediately establishes a mood of profound melancholy, with a poignant melodic line charting the vocal descent into despair. The texture is intimate, the voice and lute weaving together to paint a stark emotional landscape. The text speaks of a soul consumed by sin and sorrow, its 'wayling Muse' beginning a 'wofull work' of 'sad despaire'. The singer laments a state of perpetual grief, where sorrow itself seems to be the only solace. This is a powerful example of the Elizabethan lute song tradition, offering a compelling dramatic moment for a solo low voice.
