If that a sinner's sighs (William Byrd)

From ChoralWiki
Revision as of 13:41, 4 August 2009 by CarlosBot (talk | contribs) (Text replace - '{Voicing|5|SATTB|SATTB}' to '{Voicing|5|SATTB}')
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Music files

L E G E N D Disclaimer How to download
ICON SOURCE
File details.gif File details
Question.gif Help


  • CPDL #5363: Icon_pdf.gif Icon_snd.gif
Editor: David Fraser (submitted 2003-07-29).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 101 kB    Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Revised March 2008

General Information

Title: If that a sinner's sighs
Composer: William Byrd

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB

Genre: SecularPartsong

Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published: Psalmes, sonets & songs (1588), no.30

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

If that a sinners sighes, bee Angels food,
or that repentaunt teares bee Angels wine,
accept O Lord in this most pensive moode,
these hartie sighes and faithfull teares of mine:
That went with Peter forth most sinfullie,
but not with Peter wept most bitterlie.

If I had Davids Crowne to mee betide,
or all his purple robes that hee did weare,
I would lay then such honor all aside,
and onely seeke a sackcloth weede to beare,
his Pallace would I leave that I might show,
and mourne in cell for such offence, my woe.

Ther should these hands beat on my pensive brest
and sad, to death, for sorrow rend my haire,
my voice to call on thee, should never rest,
whose grace I seeke, whose judgement I doe feare:
upon the ground all groveling on my face,
I would beseech thy favour and good grace.

But since I have not meane to make the show
of my repentaunt minde, and yet I see
my sinne to greater heape than Peters grow,
wherby the daunger more it is to mee,
I put my trust in his most precious bloud,
whose life was paid to purchase all our good.

Thy mercie greater is then any sinne,
thy greatnesse non can ever comprehend:
wherefore O Lord, let mee thy mercie winne,
whose glorious name no time can ever end:
wherefore I say all prayse belongs to thee,
whom I beseech bee mercifull to mee.