This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
As it fell upon a day
Staff Notation • Secular, Glees
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As it fell upon a day by Lord Mornington — Lyrics
As it fell upon a day,
In the merry month of May,
Sitting in a pleasant shade
Which a grove of myrtles made;
Beasts did leap, and birds did sing,
Trees did grow, and plants did spring,
Every thing did banish moan,
Save the Nightingale alone.
She, poor bird, as all forlorn,
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About As it fell upon a day
Lord Mornington was a celebrated Irish composer of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This delightful SATB setting, As it fell upon a day, is a fine example of the glee tradition, a popular genre of secular vocal music in Britain during that period. The text evokes a pastoral scene in the 'merry month of May', where nature rejoices. Yet, the focus shifts to the plaintive song of a lone nightingale, whose 'dolefullest ditty' prompts the narrator to reflect on their own sorrows. Mornington's music captures the contrast between the idyllic setting and the bird's melancholy, making for an engaging and expressive choral experience.
