This edition was prepared by Allen Garvin — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
How vain the toils
Staff Notation • Sacred, Consort songs
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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.
A · David Fraser
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How vain the toils by William Byrd — Lyrics
How vaine the toyles that mortall men doe take
to hoord up gold that time doth turne to drosse,
forgetting him who onely for their sake,
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About How vain the toils
How vain the toils that mortall men doe take is a profound reflection on the futility of worldly pursuits and the transient nature of material wealth. Byrd’s setting for solo voice and consort of viols poignantly contrasts the ephemeral nature of gold with the eternal reward of heavenly treasures. The text, a meditative contemplation of Christian salvation, emphasizes the sacrifice of Christ and encourages listeners to store their riches in heaven, where they will find true and everlasting increase. This sacred consort song, typical of the English Renaissance, offers a moving meditation on faith and mortality, expressed through intimate vocal and instrumental interplay.
