This edition was prepared by Edna Yeh — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
In Winter cold - Whereat an Ant
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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.
SST,SSA · David Fraser
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.
In Winter cold - Whereat an Ant by William Byrd — Lyrics
In Winter cold when tree and bush was bare
And frost had nipt the rootes of tender grasse,
The Ants with joy did feed upon their fare,
Which they had storde while Summer season was:
To whom for food a Grashopper did cry
And said she starved if they did help deny.
Read full lyrics
About In Winter cold - Whereat an Ant
William Byrd's In Winter cold - Whereat an Ant paints a vivid scene of winter's scarcity contrasted with the ants' stored provisions. The text, an English secular poem, tells the fable of the ant and the grasshopper, highlighting the consequences of idleness. The composer's setting for SSAA voices captures the narrative's moral lesson. This part-song explores the contrast between industry and indolence, with Byrd's masterful handling of the vocal lines reflecting the characters' plight and pronouncements. It is a prime example of Renaissance secular vocal music, offering both musical sophistication and a clear, relatable story.
