A question about Byrd's Lullaby

anaigeon · Post by **anaigeon** » 27 Feb 2008 21:38

Hi,

I have a problem with the very beginning of the bass line, when it goes down like that: C Bb A G I realize I've always sung Ab, which, according to the scores edited here at cpdl, seems wrong.
However, I'm now feeling strange when singing the A natural!

Perhaps because I've got used to the first version?

I've been unable to find a free facsimile of this piece on the net, and thus would be interested by any comment by one of the editors, or anyone feeling reliable on the subject

Thanks

edited : I perhaps should have posted in "Musical questions", sorry

Post by **DaveF** » 27 Feb 2008 22:42

Alain,

The published version (in Psalmes, Sonets, and Songs... [1588, with at least 3 more editions thereafter]) is a tone higher, in A with no key-signature, and the passage in question is clearly D C B A - I have facsimiles of both the 3rd (1588) and 5th (c.1607) editions in front of me as I write. I don't have access to a facsimile of the manuscript version in G, but the version in the Oxford Book of English Madrigals (sic!) is based on it and again, it's C Bb A G. It feels odd because of the A flats in the melody (in the Medius part) - but Byrd enjoyed a bit of "bimodality".

DF

PS - I'll move this to Musical Questions - and I hope the above is a "Musical Answer".

anaigeon · Post by **anaigeon** » 27 Feb 2008 23:19

Dave, thank you so much, we're working this piece tomorrow evening

Post by **CHGiffen** » 28 Feb 2008 01:18

I've always seen it and performed it with descending whole, half, whole step (in both keys), never whole, whole, half. And I've probably performed it at least a dozen times.

Chuck

anaigeon · Post by **anaigeon** » 28 Feb 2008 02:14

Thanks Chuck, it seems that it's quite clear now; sometimes you make an instinctive mistake at first reading, and for some reason you like it and never get open minded and attentive enough to realize you were faulty !