This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Help I fall
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Brian Russell
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Help I fall by Thomas Morley — Lyrics
Help I fall, I fall, Lady,
my hope lo doth betray me,
O help alas I fall, I fall,
but you vouchsafe to slay me.
Help I fall, I fall, I fall,
my hope lo doth betray me.
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About Help I fall
Thomas Morley’s Help I fall paints a dramatic scene of despair and betrayal. The text describes a lover’s plea for help as their hope falters, but paradoxically, the beloved’s indifference is perceived as a cruel act, a 'vouchsafe to slay me'. The composer captures this emotional turmoil in his setting for SATB voices. This secular English madrigal explores the pain of unrequited affection, portraying a 'Nymph unkind and cruel' who scorns her 'only Jewel'. The music likely reflects the heightened drama of the text, typical of the rich harmonic language and expressive word-painting found in Morley's madrigal output.
