This edition was prepared by David Fraser — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Farewell all joys
Staff Notation • Secular, Madrigals
Preview
0
0
2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SSTTB · James Gibb
Preview
Subscribed as
Want Sunday picks sent to another address too?
Free weekly email
Your choir should not be left out in what's trending
Sunday mass selections, psalms, and trending songs in your area — straight to your inbox.
Farewell all joys by Orlando Gibbons — Lyrics
Farewell all joys, O Hell,
Now restless care’s my pillow.
Sweet myrtle shades, farewell,
Now come, sad cypress, and forlorn Love’s willow.
Read full lyrics
About Farewell all joys
Orlando Gibbons was a master of English madrigals, and Farewell all joys is a fine example of his expressive part-music. Written for five voices (SSTTB), it sets a text of profound despair and longing for death, a common theme in the genre. The music vividly reflects the text's sorrow: the opening lines immediately bid farewell to happiness, and the harmony descends into a 'black billow' of anguish. Gibbons uses the forces with great skill to depict the singer's torment, creating a powerful and moving lament. This secular work offers a striking contrast to the more optimistic texts often found in choral music.
