This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
I live, and yet methinks I do not breathe
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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I live, and yet methinks I do not breathe by John Wilbye — Lyrics
I live, and yet methinks I do not breathe,
I thirst, and drink, and drink, and thirst again,
I sleep, and yet I dream I am awake,
I hope for that I have; I have and want:
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About I live, and yet methinks I do not breathe
John Wilbye’s madrigal I live, and yet methinks I do not breathe is a powerful exploration of paradox, perfect for a secular concert programme. The text describes a soul tormented by conflicting emotions: living without truly feeling alive, constantly desiring what it has, and experiencing both peace and war simultaneously. Wilbye’s setting for three voices (SST) masterfully captures these intense, contradictory feelings through its harmonic language and melodic lines. This piece offers a rewarding challenge for choirs seeking to convey complex emotional states with vocal clarity and dramatic flair, showcasing the expressive potential of the English madrigal tradition.
