This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Cruel, behold my heavy ending
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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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.
SSAATB · James Gibb
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Cruel, behold my heavy ending by John Wilbye — Lyrics
Cruel, behold my heavy ending,
See what you wrought by your disdaining.
Causeless I die, love still attending
Your hopeless pity of my complaining.
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About Cruel, behold my heavy ending
John Wilbye's Cruel, behold my heavy ending is a secular madrigal for SSAATB voices in English. The text expresses the lament of a lover whose heart has been broken by their beloved's disdain. The lyrics speak of a painful, undeserved death brought about by the beloved's coldness, with a plea for the lover's eyes, which have caused such suffering, to end their torment. The composer masterfully uses the rich harmonies and contrapuntal textures characteristic of the English madrigal tradition to convey the intense emotions of heartbreak and despair, painting a vivid picture of unrequited love and its tragic consequences.
