This edition was prepared by James Gibb — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Dear pity, how?
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
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Dear pity, how? by John Wilbye — Lyrics
Dear pity, how, ah! how, wouldst thou become her!
That best becometh beauty's best attiring;
Shall my desert deserve no favour from her?
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About Dear pity, how?
John Wilbye's madrigal Dear pity, how? is a prime example of the genre's expressive potential, composed for three voices (SST). Written in English during the late Renaissance, this secular work showcases Wilbye's skill in setting evocative texts. The lyrics lament a cruel mistress who denies the singer any favour, despite his deep admiration. The text explores the pain of unrequited love, with the singer feeling unheard and alone, only able to 'call to echo to relieve him'. This poignant expression of suffering and devotion is characteristic of the English madrigal tradition, which often explored themes of love, loss, and complaint with musical wit and emotional depth.
