Alas! What a wretched life (John Wilbye)

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  • CPDL #24293:  Icon_pdf.gif Icon_snd.gif [ Capella]
Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2011-08-29).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 40 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: In original key of A minor.

General Information

Title: Alas! What a wretched life
Composer: John Wilbye

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SAATB

Genre: SecularMadrigal

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1598

Description: No. 19 from The 1st Set of Madrigals.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Alas! What a wretched life is this!
Nay what a death! Where tyrant Love commandeth!
My flow’ring days are in their prime declining,
All my proud hope quite fall’n, and life untwining,
My joys each after other, in haste are flying,
And leave me dying for her that scorns my crying.
Oh she from hence departs, my love refraining,
For whom, all heartless alas! I die complaining.