I attempt from love's sickness to fly

Purcell's I attempt from love's sickness to fly is a moving exploration of unrequited affection. The TTB voicing allows for rich, intertwined melodic lines that capture the speaker's internal struggle. The music itself seems to embody the text's central paradox: the more the speaker tries to escape their painful love, the deeper they fall. The interplay of the voices creates a sense of yearning and resignation, perfectly mirroring the composer's setting of the English lyric. This secular song, drawn from the world of opera, showcases Purcell's masterful ability to convey profound emotional depth through vocal harmony and a compelling melodic line.